An Ordinary Life

By Orithain and Rina

September 2010

Disclaimers

: This version of Merlin belongs to
the BBC. No infringement is intended.

It was a beautiful spring day, the sun shining over
the green meadow dotted with flowers and fluffy white clouds sprinkled across
the cerulean sky, a perfect day. Merlin lay on his back, finding pictures in the
clouds, enjoying the quiet afternoon for a little while. A jet contrail across
the sky eventually shattered the illusion that he was still in Camelot, enjoying
a stolen moment away from his duties, and he sat up with a sigh, his eyes going
to the nearby hill, a few scattered rocks all that remained of the once glorious
castle which for a short time had been the center of a golden age for Britainóor
Albion as it had been called then.

After Arthurís death, the bright dream had quickly
collapsed, no one else able to hold it, and after a few generations, even the
castle had fallen into disuse, the kingdom broken apart and the lands of the
Pendragonís fief absorbed piecemeal into the surrounding kingdoms. Unable to
bear seeing anyone else lay claim to Arthurís home, Merlin had razed it to the
ground and left Camelot, refusing to return for generations.

That had been a decision heíd regretted the first
time he encountered a young man with familiar eyes who seemed drawn to the
eccentric old man who lived in the forest in the woods. Though Arthur didnít
always remember their past, anytime they met some deeply buried part of him
recognized Merlin, no matter what age the eternal wizard chose to be, and they
almost always became friends. Very rarely, Merlin allowed the feelings between
them to become more, but losing Arthur again when they had been lovers was even
more painful, and it had been several lifetimes now since he had been able to
bear the thought of that loss.

In fact, it had been some time since Merlin had found
Arthur at all, as sometimes he didnít, but for the last twenty years or so, heíd
felt the hum deep in his bones that told him Arthur had been reborn, and he
could only hope that this time, they would meet. And perhaps this would be the
time that Arthur would remember who and what he was and what they were to each
other. With that in mind, heíd chosen an appearance much as heíd looked when
he and Arthur first met all those centuries ago, one that should approximate
Arthurís own current age.

With a final glance at the spot where the castle had
once stood, Merlin resolutely turned his back and made his way back to his
motorcycle, leaving the Welsh countryside behind to return to London and his
life as one of the idle rich. Centuries of life had allowed the wizard to amassóand
occasionally loseófortunes, and this was one of the lifetimes where he chose
to Ďinherití wealth and simply enjoy a few decades without bothering to
work. It was time to find Arthur, and he wanted nothing to interfere with that.

The club was wild, packed with young university
students all looking for a good time, chief among them a blonde twenty-year-old
dressed in faded jeans and a red shirt who was leaning against a railing,
talking with his friends and holding a bottle of beer in one hand.

"Mmm, thereís a nice one," he murmured,
downing the rest of his beer before heading out into the crowd to ask the woman
heíd spotted to dance. A few songs later, he abandoned her, bored by her inane
conversation, and scanned the crowd for another partner. "Well hello,"
he murmured, sauntering up to the lean-featured young man and flashing him his
most brilliant smile. "Care to dance?"

Merlin nearly choked on his ale, his eyes widening as
he stared at the gorgeous blonde man. Even if he hadnít felt Arthur, he would
have known this was him. He looked exactly as he had the day Merlin met him in
Camelot.

He managed not to gasp out Arthurís name, and he
regained his composure before the other man decided he was brain-damaged.
"Love to," he said, setting the bottle down and moving closer.

"Brilliant," the blonde grinned, grabbing
Merlinís hand and urging him toward the dance floor where they joined the
throngs gyrating to the dayís top techno music.

"Iím Rhys," Merlin yelled, letting his
hands rest on the soft denim covering Arthurís hips. He wished he hadnít
chosen to wear leather trousers that night since it would make it that much more
difficult to feel Arthurís touch, but judging by the heat in the blondeís
eyes when he looked at Merlin, theyíd served their purpose far better than the
wizard could ever have imagined.

"Arthur," the other man replied, flashing
another brilliant smile at him as he slid an arm around Merlinís waist,
synchronizing their movements with negligent ease. "Itís good to meet
you."

Merlin had to fight the desire to melt against Arthur.
He looked like him, sounded like him, smelled like him, and even felt like him,
and Merlin was finding himself reacting as if the fifteen centuries between had
never been. Not even the few times that he had permitted himself to become the
lover of one of Arthurís reincarnations had felt like this. "Yeah,"
he said simply, moving his hands up Arthurís chest to loop his arms around the
blondeís neck.

Arthur chuckled at that, and his free hand came to
rest on Merlinís ass as he pulled them closer together. "Not much for
small talk, are you? Fine by me, I hate being yammered at."

Merlin chuckled. "We might have a problem then. Iíve
been told I have a tendency to talk too much. Unless Iím distracted."

"Yeah, I think I am," Arthur grinned, his
fingers flexing against Merlinís ass as they moved in time to the music,
burgeoning erections rubbing together through the layers of denim and leather
that separated them.

"I love a clever man," Merlin purred against
Arthurís ear just before his teeth closed on the tender lobe, worrying it
gently, causing the other man to shudder against him.

"And I love a perceptive one. Any reason weíre
still here dancing when we could be doing something much more interesting?"

"Youíre leading."

"And Iíd be glad to continue doing it,"
Arthur laughed, beginning to walk Merlin back through the crowd to the edge of
the dance floor, keeping an arm around his waist even as he let Merlin turn
around. "So, yours, mine, or the alley behind here?" he asked, giving
a wink.

"Option D," Merlin replied with a filthy
grin.

"Which is?"

"All of the above, of course."

"Definitely my kind of man. Tube it from here or
are we going for the alleyway?"

"If we go for the alley, will you be able to get
it up again by the time we get to my flat?"

"That depends," Arthur asked, grinning
cockily. "Is your place more or less than five minutes away?"

"Oh, you are so going to live up to that,"
Merlin chuckled, stopping so that he could pull Arthur to him for a kiss that
quickly had both of them groaning and Merlinís legs wrapped around Arthurís
waist.

"Greedy," Arthur panted once the kiss broke,
"I like that in a person even more." As he was speaking, he hefted
Merlin higher and staggered back toward the alley, pressing the leaner man up
against the wall and grinding against him as he kissed Merlin again, their
tongues dueling as their mouths opened.

"Fuck or fucked?" Merlin gasped, nibbling
along the tendon on the side of Arthurís neck and rocking against the hard
cock pressing against his own.

"Either works for me, but right now Iíd rather
be in your ass," Arthur growled, unwinding Merlinís legs from around his
waist and getting a hand between them to knead Merlinís cock.

"I really hope you have something," Merlin
groaned, thrusting into Arthurís hand. "If I have to wait till we get
back to my place, Iím going to be very disappointed."

"Would I have offered if I didnít?" Arthur
let go of Merlinís ass and dug in his back pocket, coming up with a condom and
small packet of lube which he waved in front of Merlinís face.

"Brilliant," Merlin said, pulling Arthur in
for another kiss, grinding against him at the same time, at least until the more
muscular man moved back enough to pop the button to his trousers and ease down
the zipper.

"So," Arthur murmured, nipping at Merlinís
lower lip, "face to face or up against the wall?"

Merlin grinned. "Much as Iíd like to ride you,
I really donít feel like stripping in an alley, so up against the wall it will
have to be. We can try other options later."

"Perfect plan." Arthurís hand slipped into
the open fly of Merlinís trousers and closed around his shaft, slowly stroking
the hard length. "And I have to say, I love a man who goes commando."
The last was added with a dirty chuckle before he let go and worked the supple
leather downward, baring the other man from waist to knees.

"I like the feeling," Merlin replied,
rocking against Arthur and groaning at the sensation of his bare cock rubbing
against the denim.

Arthur hummed in pleasure even as he ripped open the
packet of lube and squeezed some out onto his fingers behind Merlinís back.
The finger was then trailed down Merlinís ass crack, dipping inward to rub
against his hole as Arthur kissed him again.

"Oh hell yes," Merlin groaned, "Arthur!"

"Turn around," Arthur whispered, releasing
his hold on Merlinís waist to gently press against his hip until he did just
that. Waiting until Merlin had braced himself, he then leaned up against him,
licking Merlinís ear as he slid his finger inside the tight channel.

Shuddering, Merlin pressed back and clenched his ass
around the invading digit, reveling in the sensation of being filled. "So
good," he rasped, letting his head fall forward.

"How do you feel about biting?" Arthur
rasped, twisting the finger that was buried in Merlinís ass.

Merlin shuddered and moaned, his whole body
tightening, and Arthur chuckled throatily. "Iím going to take that as a
positive reaction," he said, adding a second finger and nipping at the bare
skin of the base of Merlinís neck.

Merlin shuddered again, his fingers scrabbling at the
wall. "If you keep that up, Iím going to come before you ever get inside
me."

"To quote someone I recently met, Ďwill you be
able to get it up again by the time we get to your flat?í" Arthur asked,
speaking the words against Merlinís shoulder as he pulled his fingers from his
ass and tore open the condom. It was a matter of seconds to roll it on, and then
he was pushing inside, moaning deep in his throat as he was surrounded by
clinging heat.

Laughing breathlessly, Merlin tensed for a short time
as his body adjusted to the sudden fullness and then slowly relaxed. "Youíd
be amazed how often I can get it up," he promised.

"You good?" Concern had entered the other
manís voice as he held himself still, breathing deeply to keep from moving.

"Better than good," Merlin assured him.
"Itís just been a while since Iíve done this, so give me a minute,
yeah?"

"Damn, Rhys, you know how to make it hard on a
guy," Arthur panted, resting his head against Merlinís shoulder but doing
as he asked though he did snake a hand down to circle Merlinís shaft, and his
lips curved into a smile when he felt that he was still hard.

"Oh yeah," Arthur said as he began to move,
hips and hand working together in perfect harmony as he groaned against Merlinís
shoulder.

"Oh yeah," Merlin echoed, rocking between
Arthurís hand and cock, his motions speeding up and his body tightening after
only a few minutes. One more thrust from Arthur against his prostate and Merlin
was crying out, his seed spraying over the wall as he came.

A low-voiced curse escaped Arthurís throat, and he
closed his teeth on Merlinís shoulder, indenting the skin as he thrust a few
more times and came as well as he was massaged by the last spasms of Merlinís
climax.

The bite made Merlin cry out, another hard spasm
wracking him with pleasure. After a long moment where the only sound in the
alley was them trying to catch their breath, Merlin chuckled. "I am so glad
I decided to go out tonight."

"Me too," Arthur said, his smile audible in
his tone as he slowly pulled back out of Merlin, tossed away the condom, and set
himself to rights. "It gives me a good reason to skip classes tomorrow as
well because Iím going to wager itís going to be a long night.

"Mmm, as long as we can make it," Merlin
agreed, hitching his trousers up some. "Oh bugger it, please tell me you
have a tissue or something," he said hopefully.

Arthur grinned as Merlin turned around and dug in his
back pocket to brandish a somewhat ragged tissue at him. "Always
prepared," he smirked.

"I like you already," Merlin said, snatching
the tissue to clean himself up somewhat before working the leather trousers back
into place. "Iíd have hated to have to use my shirt; itís one of my
favorites."

"While Iím enjoying the trousers myself,"
Arthur said appreciatively as he watched Merlin squirm to get them back on.

Merlin glanced at him. "I have others."

"At your flat which is how far from here?"

"Maybe fifteen minutes by cab," Merlin said
with a shrug, and Arthur frowned slightly before digging in his other back
pocket and rifling through a slim black wallet.

"Sure we canít take the tube?" he asked.

"Did I mention that I donít work because Iím
disgustingly rich?" Merlin replied cheerfully.

"Come off it," Arthur scoffed before looking
at Merlin more closely. "You arenít?"

"íFraid so. My flatís actually the top two
floors of a tower, and I own it. Er, the tower, not just the flat."

"Bloody hell. Are you sure you donít want to
marry me?" Arthur laughed.

"Never on a first date," Merlin chuckled.
"So fifteen minutes groping each other in a cab rather than an hour of
behaving ourselves on the tube, yeah?"

"Good by me." Arthur slung a companionable
arm around Merlinís shoulders as they walked out of the alley and past the
line of twenty-somethings waiting to get into the club then to the corner where
they flagged a taxi.

They piled in, and Merlin gave his address to the
driver, then promptly ignored him in favor of half turning in the seat and
kissing Arthur.

"Best taxi ride Iíve ever had," the blonde
murmured before tracing the line of Merlinís lower lip with his tongue as his
hands kneaded Merlinís ass.

Totally ignoring every tenet of safety in a moving
vehicleóit wasnít as if he couldnít use magic to protect himself and
Arthur if need beóMerlin twisted more and moved to straddle Arthurís lap,
rocking against him as the kiss deepened.

Arthur groaned, his thumbs slipping up under the
brilliant blue fabric of Merlinís shirt to rub against his lower back, just
skimming the divot at the top of his ass and remaining there until the driver
cleared his throat.

"Thatíll be twenty-two fifty," he
announced.

Merlin retrieved the slim wallet from his pocket and
tossed a fifty pound note at the driver. "Keep the change," he said,
climbing out and pulling Arthur after him.

They nearly tumbled into the private lift, and Merlin
had fistfuls of Arthurís shirt in his hand as he kissed him even before the
door slid shut.

"We arenít even going to make it to a bed, are
we?" Arthur panted as the floor jarred beneath them and the lift began to
rise.

"Eventually," Merlin mumbled against his
lips. "I hope you were planning to stay for breakfast. And maybe
lunch."

"Can you cook?"

"Very well, actually. Though I was always shite
at hunting," he said with a chuckle.

"Hunting?" Arthur asked, for the moment
distracted from the kissing.

"I had a friend who enjoyed itóand ate what he
hunted," Merlin added hastily, "but it was never my thing."

"I have to agree with you; honestly, whatís the
point in it when we have Tesco and take away?" Arthur chuckled. "Or
are you telling me he was of that class?"

Merlin shrugged. "He was, but he also lived out
in the countryside. But heís not really what I want to be thinking about right
now." He hooked a leg around Arthurís waist, the other man grinning as he
ran a hand down his thigh.

"Good point," he murmured before kissing
Merlin again, their lips and bodies remaining locked together until the lift
doors opened onto a poshly conservative foyer.

Merlin wrapped his other leg around Arthurís waist,
letting him support his weight. "That way," he mumbled, more intent on
mouthing Arthurís jaw than paying intention to where they were.

The blonde stumbled out of the lift and into the
foyer, trying to keep his eye on where he was going without dropping his chin.
"Keys?" he asked in a distracted tone, his arms flexing as he pulled
Merlin tighter against him.

"Already used it to get into the lift,"
Merlin mumbled. "That door," he said, gesturing toward the main
entrance to his flat.

"You going to open it, or am I risking dropping
you?" Arthur asked as he walked in the direction Merlin indicated.

"If you bruise my ass, you donít get to fuck
it," Merlin retorted laughingly, looping one arm around Arthurís neck and
reaching with the other to open the door. Arthur carried him through to his real
foyer, one that reflected Merlin more than the generic outer lobby. Filled with
an eclectic mixture of starkly modern and antique pieces, the room somehow
worked. Rich scatter rugs broke the polished marble expanse of the floor, and
one wall was covered with a hanging that was as brilliantly colored as if it had
been woven yesterday but which had once hung on the wall of Arthur and Merlinís
chamber in Camelot.

"Down the hall and to the right to the stairs up
to my bedroom," Merlin instructed.

"Up the stairs?" Arthur asked, not really
noticing their surroundings as he was intent on getting to where they wanted to
go. "Are you trying to kill us both?"

Merlin laughed. "Iíll hop off once we get to
the stairs. I donít want to break you before I get to try all your
paces."

Arthur snorted at that even as he walked down the
hall, stopping at the foot of a wide marble staircase. "Iím not a
horse," he commented dryly.

"So you donít want to be ridden hard?"
Merlin asked as he lowered his feet to the floor and caught Arthurís hand in
his to draw him upstairs.

"Hrmm, when you put it that way," Arthur
mused as they ran up the stairs and Merlin led him to his bedroom where he
immediately dropped down on the plush king-sized bed. "Ride away!"

Merlin burst into laughter, though that didnít slow
him down from retrieving lube and condoms from the bedside table. He tossed them
down next to Arthur, removed his shirt and toed off his ankle length soft
leather boots and socks, then moved to straddle Arthurís waist.

"Hrmm, Iím liking this more when I can see
you," Arthur observed, running his hands up Merlinís thighs to frame his
groin between his palms.

"I always believed in fair play," Arthur
purred, arching up like great cat beneath him when Merlinís fingers grazed his
skin.

"Mmm, nice," Merlin replied, the long, pale
back bending so that he could drag his tongue over first one then the other
nipple, drawing a shudder from the man beneath him.

"Oh bloody hell, do that again, Rhys,"
Arthur groaned, threading the fingers of one hand through Merlinís hair.

Smiling, Merlin snapped at a nipple, tugging with his
teeth, and he pinched the other gently.

"Christ!" Arthur almost levitated off the
bed. "You do realize that itís been a lot more than five minutes since we
finished." The words were panted out as he squirmed beneath Merlin.

"Iím just trying to decide if I want to fuck
you or ride you," Merlin said, his eyes dark and his voice husky. "Any
preferences for which comes first?"

"Well, I have fucked you," Arthur panted,
"shouldnít I find out if youíre crap or not from this end?" He
grinned as he spoke and rubbed his thumbs over Merlinís leather-covered cock,
making Merlin gasp and laugh at the same time.

"I have never been crap, well, at least
not since the first time." Merlin smirked at him. "Care to help me out
of these?"

In answer, Arthur went to work on the button and
zipper once again, dragging his fingers over the bare flesh beneath the black
leather. Merlin shuddered with pleasure and thrust forward, then settled back so
he could work Arthurís jeans open.

Arthur shifted from side to side, and in a short time
both their trousers were gone and Arthur was sitting up enough to shake off his
shirt, leaving them both totally bare. The blondeís eyes darkened with arousal
and appreciation as his gaze swept over Merlinís bare body.

"Gorgeous," Merlin breathed, leaning in to
kiss Arthur and grab the lube. A moment later, they were sitting in the middle
of the bed, Merlin straddling Arthurís lap, and slick fingers slid between
Arthurís cheeks to tease at his opening.

"The whole point is to be in me," Arthur
growled before dipping his head to lick Merlinís nipple, making Merlin gasp
and shiver.

"Thatís the point of getting you slicked,"
he pointed out when he could speak.

"Which will only happen if some of it gets inside
me."

Laughing, Merlin pushed Arthur flat and shifted back
to settle between his legs. A moment later a finger pushed into him. "Happy
now?"

Arthur shifted and sucked in a deep breath when the
finger brushed against his prostate. "Oh yeah, Iím brilliant," he
crooned, spreading his legs wider and looking down the length of his own body at
Merlinís cock with a hungry expression.

"Yes, you are," Merlin whispered, his heart
in his eyes for the merest split second before his gaze fell to where two
fingers were slicking and opening Arthur for him, twisting and pushing deep.
Arthur groaned as his hips arched up off the bed, and his eyes went half-closed
with pleasure.

"It hasnít been a long time for me, so
donít feel as if you have to take forever," he offered in a throaty
voice.

"Oh really? So this would be all right?" As
he spoke, Merlin was opening a condom one-handed and sliding it onto himself.
That was all the warning Arthur got before the fingers were gone and Merlinís
cock was pushing into him.

A startled groan emerged from Arthurís throat, then
he was wrapping both his arms and legs around Merlin, rocking up to meet each
thrust as he caught Merlinís mouth in a wild, hungry kiss. Their bodies moved
together, and their hands explored, both men finding the otherís hot spots,
Merlin with conscious intent and Arthur with subconscious memories that allowed
them pleasure neither had ever found with anyone else.

It seemed to last forever, but all too soon Arthur
gasped and shuddered, hot liquid spurting over both of their bodies while Merlinís
mouth ate his cries of pleasure.

"Arthur," Merlin moaned, rearing up to stare
at the evidence of Arthurís climax, the sight sending a ripple of pleasure
through him. "Yes," he hissed, moving faster now, stabbing into Arthur
with quick, hard thrusts that sent him screaming into orgasm after only a short
time longer.

"All right," Arthur murmured a time later
when both their breathing had slowed to something approximating normal, "it
might take longer than five minutes to recover this time."

Merlin chuckled wearily, his head tucked into the
curve of Arthurís shoulder and an arm and leg flung possessively over the
blonde. "It might even be time to sleep between rounds."

"And I see I get the wet spot," Arthur
murmured, not sounding too upset, judging by his yawn and the arm he wrapped
around Merlinís waist.

Merlin snorted. "Have you noticed how big this
bed is? Move us if it bothers you." He clearly had no intention of moving
off his comfortable position half on top of Arthur.

"Ass," Arthur muttered as he did just that,
managing to shift them both to the side and out of the spot where the other manís
semen had leaked from his condom before Merlin had disposed of it.

"You can have that later."

"After breakfast or before?" Arthur yawned.

"Both." Merlinís lips curved into a smile
Arthur could feel against his shoulder.

Arthur stretched as he woke up, the move aborted by
the weight that was half over him. "Need the toilet," he mumbled at
the interrogative noise he heard, then slipped out of the bed, pausing when he
realized he wasnít sure just where the toilet was.

"Oi, Rhys, directions?" he hissed,
half-turning as he scratched the back of his neck.

There was an incoherent mumble, muffled by the pillow
that Merlinís face was buried in, and an arm waved, somehow managing to cover
a complete circle.

"And that helps how?" Arthur sighed,
squinting as he made out more details in the near dark and took a few careful
steps forward, not wanting to bark his shins on anything. "This is complete
shite," he muttered as he finally found a wall and felt his way along it
until he felt a door knob and eased it open. Waving a hand into the space, he
felt the brush of fabric against his hand and sighed.

"All right, closet. Next?" Stifling a yelp
when he stubbed his toe on what he thought was a dresser, he glowered in the
direction of the bed Ė or so he hoped. "You are so giving me a blow job
for this!"

There was more grumbling, and Merlin finally raised
his head, peering around blearily. "What the hell are you doing over
there?" he mumbled, reaching over and switching on the bedside light,
though heíd come within a hair of creating a ball of witchlight to illuminate
the room.

"Trying not to kill myself," Arthur growled.
"You live in a bloody maze! I could have been killed trying to find the
damn toilet!"

Merlin stared at him and pointed at the door almost
directly across the room from Arthur. "You might want to try the
bathroom."

"Thank you so much for the succinct
directions," Arthur snorted as he crossed in front of the bed and vanished
into the indicated room.

Merlin stopped with his head halfway back to the
pillow, wide eyes fixed on the space where Arthur had disappeared. A moment
later he was across the room and staring at Arthurís back, licking his lips.

Arthur turned and looked at him strangely. "What?
Was there some other toilet I was supposed to use?"

Merlin moved around so he was looking at Arthurís
back again, and a finger came out to trace a line in the tattoo of a wide-bladed
sword with a plain, leather-wrapped hilt. "That is really hot."

"So that explains where your money comes from;
youíre Hugh Hefnerís great-grandson!" Arthur laughed as he followed,
enjoying the sight of Merlinís bare ass as he crossed the room to the large
dresser.

The track pants landed on Arthurís head, accompanied
by Merlinís laughter. "Donít be ridiculous. Iím rich because Iím
Merlin the Magician and have had fifteen centuries to accumulate wealth."
He smirked at Arthur before getting one of the soft cotton garments for himself
as well.

"If youíre Merlin the Magician, whereís your
pointed hat and sparkly robe?" Arthur snickered as he pulled the stretchy
grey pants on and walked over to the other man, staying out of punching range.

Merlin glared at him. "The only person who ever
tried to get me to wear something like that was another blonde prat I used to
know. Give me a minute to add the arsenic to your coffee, wonít you."

"Youíre the one who brought it up!" Arthur
laughed, slinging his arm around Merlinís waist as they left the bedroom and
started down the stairs. As opposed to the night before, he actually looked
around him, letting out a low whistle at what he saw. "Bloody hell, being
Hugh Hefnerís great-grandson has its perks."

"Prat." Merlin shook his head. "Keep it
up and I wonít make you breakfast. Or Iíll make you wear a Playboy Bunny
uniform."

"Ooo, Iím so scared." Arthur took a seat
on one of the chairs at the island in the center of the kitchen and watched as
Merlin set up a complicated looking coffee maker.

"You should be. You really donít have the legs
for fishnets." Merlin tossed him a grin once he had the coffee started and
then went to rummage in the fridge. "Any preferences?"

As the requests grew steadily more complex, Merlin
straightened up and turned to look at him with eyebrows raised. "If you ask
for eggs benedict, youíre going to be the one making them."

"I can try," Arthur grinned, "but weíd
both end up in hospital, so I wouldnít recommend it."

Merlin shook his head and chuckled. "Pour the
coffee, and Iíll make breakfast," he instructed, drawing sausages and
eggs out of the icebox and setting them on the counter next to the stovetop.
"Am I hoping for too much to think you might be able to put the toast
on?"

"It depends on how complicated your toaster
is," Arthur observed as he stood and began to open the dark oak cupboards,
looking for coffee mugs.

Merlin stared at him, an egg in either hand. "Put
the bread in the slots on top and push the lever down. Think you can manage
that?" he asked dryly.

Arthurís response was to raise two fingers at him
without turning from his search of the cabinetry, making Merlin laugh and turn
his attention back to the fry pan. "Right, Iíll let you know when to put
the toast on then," he said. "How do you like your eggs?" he
asked, poised to crack the eggs into the pan until he remembered Arthur might
prefer them scrambled.

"Over easy," the other man called back
before making a triumphant sound as he finally found the mugs and pulled two off
the shelf to pour both of them their coffee, setting Merlinís on the granite
counter next to the stove then turning and pulling a loaf of bread out of the
breadbox. "So who cleans this place?"

Merlin shrugged. "I do the basic stuff, and I
have someone come in once a week to give it a good going over. Thanks," he
added, gesturing with the cup before taking a mouthful.

"Must be nice," Arthur grinned before
drinking as well. "Hrmm, good lay, good coffee, youíre two to the
positive, Rhys."

"That depends, are your inoculations up to
date?" Arthur asked as he pulled four slices of bread from the packaging
and slid them into the toaster. "Dark or light?"

"Midway," Merlin replied, taking a moment to
admire the way the soft cotton clung to Arthurís ass.

Arthur nodded and left the slide where it was before
pushing the lever to drop the bread into the toaster. "Butter or
margarine?" he asked, carrying his coffee over to the refrigerator and
looking inside.

"Oh butter, definitely. It tastes so much better,
donít you think?" Merlin replied, sliding their breakfast onto plates and
carrying them to the small table in the sunny alcove at one end of the kitchen.

"Definitely," Arthur agreed, grabbing the
coffee carafe and bringing it over to refill both their mugs before taking a
seat across from Merlin.

Merlin eyed him across the table, though that didnít
slow down his own consumption of his breakfast. The previous night had left him hungry.
"So," he said slowly, "am I right that you wouldnít be adverse
to continuing this?" He gestured vaguely.

Arthurís answer was somewhat garbled by his mouthful
of food, and when Merlin looked at him strangely, he swallowed and tried again.
"You mean this as something other than a one off?"

Merlin nodded. "We seem to get along well, and I
thought last night was fun."

Arthur started to speak then seemed to be seriously
considering Merlinís words, and he slowly nodded. "Yeah, it was; so we
see where it goes from here?"

Merlin rolled his eyes. "Oh, go home and become
educated before I give in to temptation and turn you into a toad."

"Rather hard to shag a toad, isnít it?"
Arthur asked before darting for the door and the private elevator to avoid
Merlinís comeback.

Merlin had restrained himself for two entire days,
reminding himself that Arthur had responsibilities in this lifetime, and he didnít
belong to Merlin, at least not yet, but finally he needed to hear the other manís
voice, needed to assure himself that it hadnít all been a dream on his part.
He called Arthur, hoping he wasnít in a class.

"Hullo?" The other man sounded out of
breath.

"Arthur?" Merlin asked tentatively,
wondering if heíd interrupted something he shouldnít. It wasnít as if they
were exclusive after a single night.

There was a secondís silence before Arthur
responded. "Rhys! Sorry, just got in from practice, and Iím a bit fagged.
Howíre you?"

"Mmm, happy now that Iím imagining you all hot
and sweaty," Merlin purred.

"More like bruised and aching," Arthur
laughed. "Iíd suggest you coming over to rub liniment on me, but Iíve
got class in half an hour."

"Well, hell, itís not fair to tease a bloke
like that," Merlin chuckled. "Are you free for dinner?"

"I think I can be talked into that. Are you going
to bring me flowers as well?"

"Iíll see if I can gather some nettles for
you."

"Oh, now thatís cold," Arthur laughed,
"or painful. When and where? I need to go hop in the shower then go listen
to a boring lecture on macroeconomics."

Merlin considered what he knew of the area around the
university Arthur was attending and then suggested a pub that had been around
for literally ages. "Is seven good for you? And would you care to bring a
change of clothes?"

"As long as you get me out of the door by seven
come morning."

"I own an alarm clock," Merlin assured him,
smiling widely now as he contemplated twelve hours of Arthur.

"Solves that problem then. Need to run; see you
at seven then; oh, and Rhys? Glad you called." Arthurís smile was evident
in his voice.

"Me too," Merlin said by way of farewell
before disconnecting the call.

Merlin looked up the instant Arthur walked into the
pub that evening, the part of them that was connected letting him know Arthur
was close. He smiled broadly and waved to catch Arthurís attention, the blonde
raising his hand in acknowledgement though his grin was somewhat pained as it
pulled at the swollen skin under his left eye.

"Good thing you got here early," he
commented as he reached the table, "this place is always packed."

Merlin surveyed him with interest. "You look like
I should have ordered a raw steak to drape over your face."

"Caught an elbow in the scrum," Arthur
chuckled, ordering an ale when the waitress came over. "I can still see, so
itís not too bad."

"And you donít appear crippled, so youíll
still be of some use to me," Merlin mused, grinning.

Arthurís ale arrived, and he chuckled as he lifted
the glass, toasting Merlin with it. "Then hereís to being
versatile."

"Iíll happily drink to that," Merlin
agreed, suiting action to words before setting his glass back down. "I may
have to get you to sign documents about your games though; Iíd hate to have
people think I was battering you."

Arthur looked down at himself then over at the much
leaner man sitting across from him and bit back a snicker. "Not sure if
theyíd ever believe that one; good thing you arenít the one with the
bruises."

"Prat," Merlin replied without heat. "Iíll
have you know Iíve had a lot of self-defense training."

"What? Are you some kind of black belt or
something?"

Merlin nodded. "Fencing too. A friend
insisted," he added with a sad smile.

"Is this the same friend that hunted?"
Arthur asked curiously.

"Actually, yes. He was determined that I be able
to take care of myself to his satisfaction in any situation."

"You make it sound as if you were growing up in a
war zone or something," Arthur observed before taking a drink.

"It seemed that way at times. But he just had a
very strongly developed sense of responsibility and a protective streak a mile
wide."

"Did something happen to him? I mean, itís all
right if you donít want to talk about it, but you talk about him in the past
tense..."

"He died a long time ago," Merlin said
before taking a long swallow of his ale. "Sorry, I donít mean to talk
about him too much."

"You havenít; itís just obvious from your
expression when you do that he meant a lot to you." The waitress appeared
again and they both ordered.

"Iíve always had good taste in men,"
Merlin assured Arthur once the waitress was gone, saluting him briefly with his
drink.

Arthur returned the salute and leaned back in his
chair, downing the rest of his glass. "So, what have you been doing the
past few days?"

"The weatherís been good, so Iíve been
enjoying it, taking my motorbike out into the countryside, with a good book and
a box lunch."

"Thatís it?" Arthur asked after staring at
him for a moment. "Sorry, Iím just not used to hearing of anyone who can
just do nothing whenever they want."

Merlin grinned. "Itís lovely being filthy
rich."

"But donít you ever want to do
something?" Arthur asked curiously

Of course he did, but Merlin didnít really think
there was any way to explain the work and play cycles of fifteen hundred years.
"Of course, and I do have a degree. But right now, I just want to enjoy
myself for a while."

"Canít blame you a bit for that," Arthur
nodded. "And did I hear you say that you had a motorcycle?"

"Itís my favorite way to travel. I hate being
sealed up in a metal box, although I do have cars for when I need them."
Merlin leaned back as the waitress brought their meals, and he immediately dug
into his shepherdís pie, making happy noises at the first bite.

Arthur grinned at Merlinís reaction to the meal
before digging into his own steak and kidney pie, waiting until they were about
both halfway through their meal before taking a break. "All right, I have
to ask, how many cars does that plural include?"

Merlin grinned briefly. "It varies. I buy new
ones that appeal to me and sell off older ones that Iíve grown bored with. I
think I have about seven or eight right now."

"Christ," Arthur whistled, shaking his head.
"Do you drive them when the weather comes in?"

A quick nod didnít interrupt Merlinís continued
enjoyment of his dinner. After swallowing, he elaborated, "I used the bikes
and convertibles in good weather and the others in rainy weather or
winter."

"Fuck yeah!" Arthur exclaimed before looking
sheepish. "I didnít say that just to get you to offer."

Merlin chuckled. "Trust me, I have very good
radar for people who are just after my money. Youíre about as far from that
kind as humanly possible."

"Know me that well, do you?"

"Oh, I think I know you pretty well." Merlin
chuckled suddenly. "Even if I donít know your last name."

"Pembroke, planning on telling me yours
now?" Arthur asked.

"We did skip a few things, didnít we?"
Merlin said wryly. "Mineís Lloyd. Pleased to meet you," he added,
offering Arthur his hand.

"Pleasure to meet you," Arthur grinned, his
fingertips sliding over Merlinís palm after they shook hands. "So, are we
having dessert here or back at your place?"

"I thought weíd do both," Merlin replied,
his fingers curling up to catch and hold Arthurís. "Unless you have some
objection?"

"To two of my favorite things? Never."

"Iíve made it to your top two? Iím
flattered... or were you talking about sex in general?" Merlin asked with a
hint of a chuckle.

"For right now, itís the latter," Arthur
said as he finished his ale. "After all, weíve only known each other a
few days."

"Well damn, and here I thought Iíd made such a
spectacular impression for a moment there." Merlin grinned, making it clear
that he hadnít expected anything else.

Arthur rolled his eyes, wincing when the move pulled
at the swollen flesh under the right one. "Oh yes, Iím that much of a
push-over."

"I like pushing you over," Merlin smirked.

"Oh, into that kind of thing, are you?"

"Iím into anything that feels good and we both
enjoy."

"Oh, I think we can come up with something,"
Arthur began before a pair of hands slipped over his eyes, making him wince.

"Guess who," a feminine voice laughed in his
ear.

Merlin regarded the tall, svelte brunette with
interest, his eyebrows rising as she completely ignored him. "Hi, Iím
Rhys," he said, hoping both for an introduction and to get her hands off
Arthur.

Arthur reached up to rub at his eyes as the womanís
hands slid away, and she leaned in around him, her hands resting on his
shoulders. "This is Megan, Rhys." He twisted around to look up at her.
"I thought you were studying in Paris?"

She shrugged, sliding around to sit down on Arthurís
lap, looking surprised when she got a good look at his face. "Good Lord,
Arthur, what have you done to yourself now?"

"Practice," he sighed, looking decided
uncomfortable. "Nothing to worry about, not that you ever did."

"If you will play your games, you have to expect
to get hurt. And not expect me to watch that nonsense."

"Iíd love to see a game," Merlin butted
in. "There are chairs, you know," he added pointedly.

"This is more comfortable," Megan informed
him with a negligent toss of her hair as Arthur sighed.

"Did you hear me complain about it? And werenít
you here with people, Megan?"

"I thought you might be missing me," Megan
purred, curling an arm around Arthurís neck while Merlin did a slow boil
across the table.

"Why?" Arthur asked bluntly.

"We were very good together."

Arthur sighed again and barely kept himself from
pushing her off his lap "And you were good with everyone else. Itís
not happening again, Megan, so perhaps you should go toddle off to whomever is
warming your bed right now."

"Oh, donít be so boring, Arthur. Thereís more
than enough room for you too. I do love two men."

"Right, thatís it." Merlin got to his feet
and grabbed Meganís arm, clearly intending to remove her from Arthurís lap.

"Rhys," Arthur said, reaching up to place
his hand over the other manís, "donít. Megan, enough." With that
he stood and ceremoniously dumped her off his lap.

Megan let out a yelp of surprise and stumbled a few
steps before regaining her balance and whirling around to glare furiously at
them. "What did you think you were doing?" she demanded.

Merlin cut in before Arthur could answer.
"Getting rid of an irritant," Merlin said coldly.

Megan drew in a breath as her dark eyes narrowed, and
Arthur held up a hand. "You really should go back to the crew you came
with," he suggested. "Weíre over, Megan; you made that abundantly
clear."

"Donít be absurd, Arthur; weíre never going
to be over."

Merlin glared at her, turned to grab Arthur, and
kissed him hard. "Go away," he gritted out after the kiss.

"You have to be joking me!" she
exclaimed.

"Megan, go. Now," Arthur said, his
expression hardening as he looked at her.

"This isnít over, Arthur."

Merlin snorted.

"It was over when I found you in bed with
Robert," Arthur stated flatly.

Merlin stared at Megan, turned to give Arthur an
obvious once over, and started to laugh. "Oh, you are an idiot,
Megan."

"And just who are you to judge me, you, you
poofter!" she snipped, glaring at him before turning and stalking away.

"Iím the one who knows a treasure when he sees
it," Merlin murmured too softly for her to hear before returning to his
chair and gazing up at Arthur. "I really thought you had better taste,
Arthur, though I do have to admit that sheís beautiful."

Arthur sighed as he sat down again, at the same time
running his hand over his jaw. "That was the issueóand you really donít
know me, do you, or vice versa."

Merlin raised his ale to his mouth to hide his smile,
draining the last of it. "Have you ever met someone and just known
them?" he asked after a moment.

"You mean think you knew them, right?"
Arthur asked.

"Do I?" Merlinís smile held a tinge of
mystery now, and Arthur shook his head as he chuckled.

"You are so strange."

"At least Iím not boring," Merlin pointed
out, starting to chuckle, the annoyance caused by Megan vanishing as quickly as
it had come.

"So youíre saying thatís a good thing?"
Arthur asked before grinning.

"Of course." Merlin looked down his nose,
pretending to be insulted.

"So strange," Arthur repeated as their
waitress returned and dropped the bill on the table. "So, I guess we arenít
having dessert here then."

"Letís stop and get something on the way, and
we can have it at my flat," Merlin suggested as he pulled out his wallet at
the same time Arthur pulled out his.

"Are you at least going to let me pay for it
then?"

"Iíll pick the most expensive pastries I can
find for you to buy for me," Merlin promised, making Arthur chuckle.

"Just so long as they arenít ones with lemon
curd."

"You have something against lemon curd?"
Merlin asked, getting to his feet after leaving enough cash to cover their bill
and a good tip.

"What?" Arthur asked. "You donít know
that about me?"

Merlin rolled his eyes. "Iím not a stalker, you
prat."

"Youíre the one who said they felt they knew
everything about me!" Arthur paused before shrugging. "Actually, Iím
glad you didnít know that; itís a bit disconcerting the other way."

"Personality, not every detail of your likes and
dislikes," Merlin retorted. "So, lemon curd?" he prodded.

"Hate it."

"Ah. I like it, but I can happily forgo it in
favor of something weíll both enjoy licking off each other."

"Whipping cream perhaps?" Arthur asked.

"Or chocolate mousse. Or both." Merlin
grinned as he reached for Arthurís hand as they made their way out of the
restaurant.

"Mmm, sounds excellent, of course we have to find
a place that has them in stock."

"I know the perfect place," Merlin assured
him. As they approached his car, a cherry red 1967 Camaro convertible, he pulled
the keys out of his pocket and dangled them in the air. "Want to
drive?"

Arthur stopped dead in his tracks, staring at the
vintage car. "Bloody hell," he muttered under his breath before
looking over at Merlin. "No, you drive, that way I wonít be distracted
and wreck us."

Merlin shrugged as he hopped over the door and slid
behind the wheel, reaching over to unlock Arthurís door for him in case he
preferred to open it to get in. "Let me know if you change your mind."
Something struck him, and he paused. "Oh, have you ever driven a left-hand
drive car? Is that the problem?"

Arthur smiled wryly as he got into the car. "Not
much chance of that where I came from."

"Then weíll just have to go out into the
countryside one weekend when youíre free, and you can practice away from
innocent civilians."

"Youíd trust me with your car?" Arthur
asked incredulously.

Merlin turned to stare at him. "I told you you
could drive them if you wanted. Iím not in the habit of saying things I donít
mean."

"I justĖ" Arthur began before closing his
mouth with an almost audible snap. "Thank you."

Arthur looked at him askance before snorting.
"Perhaps itís that feeling as if you know someone, but I highly doubt
thatís the case."

"Okay, so maybe I know that your affections canít
be bought, and I wouldnít want anyone who could," Merlin admitted with a
chuckle. "But you know people are going to say that. Itís just a good
thing Iím not older, or weíd end up on the front pages of all the
tabloids."

"Oh, so youíre that well known are you?"
Arthur asked, his eyebrows arching upward. "Or is that notorious?"

"Depends who you ask," Merlin replied.
"And itís not as if I canít walk down the street without being mobbed,
but the paparazzi do come round during slow news cycles. Iím rich, and I donít
give a damn about playing by the rules."

"It must be nice," Arthur mused, sounding
amused.

"Itís a lot more fun than being poor,"
Merlin admitted with a chuckle. "And I enjoy it as much as I can."

"Well, Iím certainly for enjoying
yourself." Arthur looked around them at the traffic that crowded Londonís
streets before chuckling. "Was there a point in driving?"

"I had the pastry shop stop in mind when I headed
out, and I didnít really think you wanted to balance behind me holding a
box," Merlin replied. "And this way, weíre that much closer to home
after we make our stop. Itís on the way to my flat."

"You think that I couldnít hang on to a
box?"

"I think that when I get you behind me on one of
my bikes, I want you hanging on to me."

"I could hang on with one hand," Arthur
chuckled. "Rugby skills do come in handy."

"Hmm, sounds intriguing. Weíll have to
experiment some time. But I can really think of better things for you to do with
your other hand than hold a box."

"Probably, but then we need to get a box before
we can discuss that," Arthur observed.

"Focused too, I like that in a man," Merlin
said, sounding amused. "And we can see what comes of it back at my
place."

"Iíve noticed," Merlin agreed with a truly
filthy grin. "And in most situations, I enjoy it. But right now, Iím
trying to figure out a way to gag you."

"I could think of one way, but then you might
have an accident," Arthur shot back.

"Thatís exactly my problem. I can think of a
couple of ways weíd both enjoy, but not without getting arrested," Merlin
said, starting to laugh helplessly. "Good thing weíre at our first stop,
isnít it?" He parked the car, managing to find a spot not too far from
the shop that was their destination, and turned to face Arthur. "So youíd
best behave now."

Arthur pulled a face as he climbed out of the car,
closing the door behind him. "You sound like my mother when you say thatónot
at all the image I needed, thank you."

Merlin was now laughing so hard that he had to lean on
the car until he caught his breath. "No, itís really not how I want you
to be thinking of me."

Arthur was still shuddering as they walked into the
bakery, perusing the limited late evening selection. "Cream horns?" he
suggested, nodding toward the tray of them.

"I hate logical men. What about after classes, if
I promise to leave you alone long enough to get any work done that you need
to?"

"That could work," Arthur mused.

"See, Iím known for my good ideas."

"And your hot ass," Arthur said with a wink.

"Which youíre more than welcome to once we get
back."

"Oh damn," Arthur grinned. "Drive
faster."

Merlin burst into laughter. "I do like a greedy
man. And I am." He pressed down on the accelerator whenever possible.

The drive to Merlinís building was longer than
either man would have liked but still relatively short, and they survived the
elevator ride to tumble, half-undressed but somehow still holding the bakery
box, into his foyer.

"Door," Arthur mumbled around the bit of
Merlinís neck he was sucking on, urging him forward from behind.

Merlinís response was unintelligible, but he did get
the door open, and they stumbled inside. Merlin spun to face Arthur, pulling him
into a kiss, and his hands slid under Arthurís shirt, palms flattening against
the warm skin of his back.

"Need to put the box down," Arthur muttered
against Merlinís lips even as he spread his legs wider to drag Merlin against
him with his free hand.

"Need to put it in the fridge," Merlin
replied, steering them toward the kitchen without parting from Arthur.
"Cream," he added in explanation.

"Too rational," Arthur murmured, grabbing
hold of his jeans to keep them up as he stumbled after Merlin.

"Not for long," Merlin assured him,
intentionally pausing so that Arthur ran up against him and he could rock back
against Arthurís erection.

"Mmm, glad to hear that." Arthur reached
around Merlinís side to offer him the pastry box once he had the refrigerator
door open. Merlin shoved it inside and shut the door, immediately pulling Arthur
to him for another kiss.

Arthur groaned into his mouth, his hands moving
greedily over Merlinís body, shoving aside cloth and denim to get to the flesh
beneath it.

"Never have fucked on the counter," Merlin
mumbled as he dragged his teeth along the tendons of Arthurís neck.

"Thatís a brilliant plan," Merlin agreed,
hooking a leg around Arthurís waist, the other man lifting him up before
turning and setting him on the granite counter next to the sink.

"So, you have lube here, or do we need to get the
cooking oil?"

"I donít usually keep lube in the
kitchen," Merlin chuckled, "although that may change now."

"Cooking oil then or is that one of those things
that destroys rubbers?" Arthur asked, grinning.

"No, thatís good," Merlin said, pulling
out a bottle. He had no idea if it was or not, but he could use his magic to
make sure that it would be, at least this time.

Arthur took the cooking oil and looked at it before
breaking into laughter. "Iím never going to look at this the same
way," he said as he pulled a condom from his back pocket and set it on the
counter next to them and started tugging Merlinís trousers off.

"Tell that to my mum when I have to leave the
table if she serves anything fried!" As he spoke, Arthurís hands were
sliding up Merlinís legs to settle on his hips, his thumbs rubbing small
circles on the thin skin there.

Merlin snickered, almost choking when it changed to a
gasp as Arthur touched him. "Iíll have to stock up on fried foods for you
then."

"Evil, evil man," Arthur chuckled as he
stepped out of his own jeans and stepped forward into the V of Merlinís legs,
rubbing their bodies together.

"I do try... and I enjoy an appreciative
audience." Merlin clenched a fist in Arthurís hair and used it to pull
him down for a hot, messy kiss, Arthurís hands sliding to roam over his back
before he reached for the oil, managing to get the top off with one hand and
narrowly avoiding spilling it all over both of them.

Merlin groaned into the kiss, his back arching to
press closer to Arthur before he leaned back on his elbows, displaying himself
blatantly.

"Oh hell," Arthur moaned, bending to swipe
his tongue over the pale skin just above Merlinís navel then nipping at the
taut flesh before he poured the oil over his fingers and Merlinís groin,
rubbing both hands through the slick liquid.

Merlinís hips jerked up, and he moaned, biting his
lip as he stared down at Arthurís hands on him. "Bloody hell, yes."

Arthur circled a finger around Merlinís balls then
pressed it against his hole, the tip of his digit sliding easily into him.
"Just donít slide off the counter," he murmured.

"So get your cock in me, and I wonít be able
to."

"Greedy git," Arthur laughed, adding a
second finger to stretch Merlin more fully before giving in and pulling back so
that he could roll a condom on over his erection, slick it up, then press
inside.

"Oh yeah," Merlin moaned. He moved his hands
to Arthurís shoulders, his thumbs lightly stroking over the tendons as he felt
Arthur sinking deeper inside him.

"Mmm," Arthurís eyes closed as he began to
move, one hand sliding between them to circle and stroke Merlinís cock, making
Merlin groan and clench around him.

Merlinís eyes fell shut as well as he concentrated
on the intense sensations filling him, Arthur inside him and his hand on him,
moving in the perfect rhythm, exactly as he always had done. "Arthur,"
he whispered.

Arthur moved his other hand to cup the back of Merlinís
neck, teasing him with light kisses as he continued to thrust into him.
"Merlin," he breathed before closing his lips over Merlinís.

Merlinís eyes flew open at the name even as he
returned the kiss, but it seemed unconscious on Arthurís part, and he let his
eyes close again, giving himself up to the moment, their bodies slapping
together and pulling apart while Arthur leaned against him, keeping Merlin
securely on the counter.

Merlinís fingers combed through the thick blonde
hair, and he whimpered into the kiss, his arms and legs wrapped around Arthur.
Every moment drove the pleasure higher, and he cried out, his body tensing as he
came.

"Fuck, yes," Arthur gasped as Merlin
convulsed around him, and he drove forward, burying himself fully in the other
man before his body clenched as he spasmed, gasping out his pleasure into Merlinís
mouth.

Merlin held tightly to Arthur, half supporting him as
they both slowly calmed and caught their breath. "I have a new appreciation
for counters," he said cheerfully and pressed a kiss to Arthurís temple.

"Good thing theyíre sturdy," Arthur
chuckled throatily before straightening, stroking the hand that had been wrapped
around Merlinís cock up his chest, making Merlin purr with pleasure.

"Unlike me. I think you broke me," Merlin
chuckled.

"You look all right to me, just somewhat wrung
out," Arthur grinned. "Do you feel like you can stand, or do you need
to sit there a bit longer?"

Merlin stuck his tongue out. "Iím just going to
sit here for a bit. Smug prat."

"Oh, you like me this way, donít deny it,"
Arthur laughed before wincing as his bruised cheekbone throbbed.

"At the risk of giving you a swelled head, yes, I
suppose I do." Merlin fought the urge to heal Arthurís injury, knowing
there was no way to explain it if he did.

"Give me five minutes or so, and that might be
the case."

"Not that one," Merlin laughed before
pulling Arthur in for a quick kiss.

"So you say now," the blonde laughed.

"Iím sure you could convince me
otherwise," Merlin agreed. "Though someplace more comfortable for the
next round would be good, yeah?"

"Your bed would work for that," Arthur
suggested as he got rid of the condom and hitched his pants up, grinning at
Merlin. "And if itís so uncomfortable, why are you still sitting up
there?"

"Because I needed to give my knees time to start
working again," Merlin retorted. "As you bloody well know, so stop
fishing for compliments." He slid off the counter, pulling a face at Arthur
when he wobbled briefly before finding his footing, Arthur pressing his lips
together to keep from smirking all the while.

"How about we agree that you can gloat next time
you fuck me?"

"That sounds fair," Merlin decided.
"And I think we need a shower before bed," he added.

"Yes, mum," Arthur laughed. "Though itís
not that late."

"Who said anything about sleeping?"

"Pervert," Arthur grinned. "No wonder I
like you."

"I think that makes you a pervert too,"
Merlin chuckled, catching Arthurís hand in his to draw him down the hall
toward the stairs up to the bedroom.

"Hold on!" Arthur laughed, putting on the
brakes, his heavier mass bringing them to a stop. "We forgot
something."

Merlin looked over his shoulder at him.
"What?"

"Dessert." Arthur said, pointing back
forward the refrigerator.

"Oh right. I was concentrating on the wrong
creamy filling." Merlin reversed course, swerving toward the fridge to
retrieve the pastries. "Which do you want, or shall I just bring them
all?"

"If we do, are you going to make us get up and
put them back in the icebox later on?"

"Theyíd go bad if we left them out,"
Merlin pointed out, grinning.

"You are just too rational," Arthur sighed.
"Fine, just bring the eclairs."

"I save my irrational moments for when I run into
someone interesting and decide to bring them home," Merlin retorted,
pulling him in for a kiss.

"That was somewhat irrational," Arthur
mused, his lips moving against Merlinís, "but Iím not going to complain
about it."

"Youíre more interesting than a stray
cat," Merlin replied with a grin before deepening the kiss, the sensation
of Arthurís partially clothed body against his nakedness making him squirm
pleasurably.

Arthur pulled back at that, his eyebrows raised.
"The idea of you sexually involved with a stray cat makes me wonder just
what secrets youíre hiding from me."

Merlin gaped at him and then whacked the back of
Arthurís head. "Youíre a very sick man!"

"Ow! Youíre the one who brought it up!"
Arthur exclaimed, stepping back and reaching up to rub the back of his head.

"It was abuse," Arthur sniffed. "And
who knows what you idle rich do for shock and amusement."

"Trust me, youíre more than shocking
enough," Merlin replied wryly. He shook his head and pulled Arthurís
forward so he could press a kiss to the "injured" spot. "Happy
now?"

Arthur grinned at that before winking as he
straightened up. "For now, but bed and those eclairs and perhaps some
champagne would make me happier..."

The morning sun woke Merlin, and he rolled over, a
smile curving his lips when he saw the blonde head on the pillow next to him. It
was a sight that had been familiar to him once upon a time, but that time was
long past, and every time he woke up to Arthur now, at first he wondered if he
was still dreaming.

Unable to resist, he reached over and placed his hand
on Arthurís back, simply resting it there and feeling the warmth of his skin.

"Mmm." The rough noise was rumbled into the
pillow as Arthur squirmed, fighting to stay asleep.

"Go back to sleep," Merlin murmured, leaning
over to press a kiss to Arthurís shoulder. "Itís still early."

"Then why did you get me up?" Arthur
muttered, still mostly asleep. "Honestly, Merlin, you are a
worthless..." his voice trailed off as he drifted back to sleep.

Merlin stared at the back of Arthurís head, an
arrested expression on his face. "Youíre still a prat," he said
almost soundlessly, torn between laughter and tears.

The alarm sounded several hours later, and Arthur
almost threw himself out of bed, letting out a squawk when the distance proved
farther than he was used to. "What?"

Merlin stared blearily at him. "Itís called an
alarm clock; youíre the one who wanted to get up for class."

"Iím not used to a bed a meter off the
floor," Arthur muttered as he got to his feet, yawning as he looked back at
Merlin, who was still curled up in bed. "And donít bother getting up on
my account."

Merlin smirked at him. "I wasnít planning on
it." He reached over to the nightstand and then tossed something to Arthur,
who looked down at the set of keys, then back at Merlin.

"What are these?"

"Keys obviously. That way you can let yourself
back in after your class and wake me up... if youíre still planning to come
back to share the rest of those pastries."

"Or just come over if you want. I should be back,
or if not, I wonít be long."

"I can imagine." Arthur tipped Merlinís
chin up so he could kiss him again. "How long does it take to throw piles
of cash at a dealer, not long I wager."

"Everyone needs a hobby." Merlin reached up
and caught a fistful of Arthurís hair to hold him in place for a deeper kiss,
one that had Arthur ruddy faced and breathing deeply as he finally, reluctantly,
pulled back.

"You are a bad influence, Rhys Lloyd, and my
mother would say I donít need any more of those, so Iím off before I change
my mind and crawl back into bed with you." He took a step back out of
Merlinís reach, grinned, blew him a kiss as he grabbed his duffle, and left.

Merlin gazed at the vacant space where Arthur had been
for several seconds, a fond smile on his lips. It might not be long before
Arthur remembered him, he mused, since more and more, Arthurís comments were
reminiscent of that first lifetime together. His subconscious clearly knew who
he was and who Merlin was, and that would push into his conscious mind as time
passed if previous incarnations were anything to judge by. Merlin just hoped
that Arthurís appearance being identical to the first time didnít indicate
that this would be the lifetime that involved a crisis requiring the "once
and future king".

"This time," he murmured, "Iím not
going to lose you young, Arthur Pendragon. You owe me a lifetime together."

And a good start to it would be a second bike so that
they could travel together, so Merlin pushed himself to his feet and went off to
start his day, hoping to be back home by the time Arthur returned so as not to
waste any time together.

"Question," Arthur said when Merlin answered
his mobile, "I have work I have to get done this evening; do you still want
me to come over?"

"Sure, Iíll be good and not bother you while
youíre working, and then I can be your reward."

"Oh yes, that will help my concentration,"
Arthur sighed though the sound was tinged with laughter. "So, what time did
you get out of bed anyway?"

"Not too late, around nine. And I got another
bike, so we can go out of the city if you like one weekend."

There was silence from Arthurís end of the
conversation for a moment. "You bought another motorcycle so that we could
take them out to the country?" he asked slowly. "I thought you just
wanted another one."

"Arthur, I really am revoltingly rich. I wanted
us to have the option, so I bought the bike. Donít make it more than it
is."

There was another short silence before Arthur
answered. "Right then, Iíll see you later."

"Donít make less of it either."

"You drive me mad, did you know that?"
Arthur murmured.

"Sorry," Merlin murmured. "I just meant
that moneyís not a big deal for me, but I still donít make a habit of buying
things for just anyone."

"Just pastries," Arthur chuckled.

"Yeah, those I do buy frequently," Merlin
agreed with a laugh. "So come here before I eat them all myself."

"Can you restrain yourself for an hour?"

"I suppose I could manage that."

"If not, call me, and Iíll try to pick up some
more."

"All right, but I think I can hold out for an
hour. Are you hungry? I could make dinner."

"I could eat," Arthur allowed.

"Brilliant. Iíll indulge myself in the kitchen.
Just let yourself in when you get here."

"Iíll do that; see you soon, Rhys."

"So, do you need to study this weekend, or are
you free to go away?" Merlin asked Friday morning as he watched Arthur get
ready to leave.

Arthur was quiet for a moment before answering.
"Actually, I was going to visit my mother; itís her birthdayóunless youíd
like to come along..."

Merlin blinked in surprise. "You want me to go
with you?"

"Do you want to go with me?" Arthur asked in
return.

"I... Yes, Iíd like that very much."

"So says the man who hasnít met my
mother," Arthur chuckled.

"You would be surprised by some of the people Iíve
met," Merlin retorted.

"Idiot," Arthur laughed, waiting for Merlin
to unlock the boot so they could both put their bags inside it.

Once done, Merlin dangled the keys from a finger.
"Want to drive?"

Arthur looked down at the cherry red Porsche, then
back up at Merlin, the keys vanishing the second their eyes met. "Damn
right I do!" he laughed, pressing the button on the fob and unlocking the
doors, revving the engine once they were both belted in and steering the car out
of the garage and into the late afternoon London traffic.

"Itís several hours; she lives in Wales
now."

"Iíll just sit here and admire the view,"
Merlin replied easily.

"Ahh, and we get to the real reason you asked me
if I wanted to drive."

"Even if I canít touch, I can look."

"Why do I have the feeling that you arenít
talking about the landscape?"

"Because youíre smart as well as
decorative."

"Oh, thatís so amusing," Arthur snorted,
shaking his head as he negotiated the traffic until they got to the motorway,
opening up the engine more when he had room to do so.

"Would you prefer that I thought you brainless
and ugly?"

"If you thought that, youíd be
brain-damaged."

"We really need to work on your self-esteem
issues," Merlin laughed.

"I happen to think itís fine the way it
is." Arthur suddenly squirmed and hitched himself onto his right hip.
"Would you grab my phone?"

"Are you sure thatís all I can grab?"
Merlin muttered as he worked his hand into Arthurís pocket and retrieved the
phone. "And you canít take a call, youíre driving." At Arthurís
look, he rolled his eyes and answered the phone, saying, "Arthurís
phone."

"Is this Rhys?" a feminine voice asked at
the same time Arthur asked, "Who is it?"

"Yes, it is. And you must be Arthurís mother.
Weíre making fairly good time, so we should be there on time, maíam."

"Yes, Iím Ann, and Iím looking forward to
meeting you; Arthur has told me so much about you."

"Then youíre well ahead of me," Merlin
chuckled. "All heís told me is that youíre his mum, and youíre
brilliant." And that youíre obsessed with all things Arthurian, but
letís not go there.

"Arthur said that?" Amusement was plain in
Annís voice.

"Well, yes, but I probably wasnít supposed to
repeat it," Merlin said, grinning at Arthur, who glared at him out of the
corner of his eye even as he held his hand out for his phone.

"Knowing Arthur, I would say not, and tell him to
be nice to you, I like you already."

"Oh, I do," Merlin laughingly assured her.
"But he wants to speak to you know, so Iíll say bye for now. I look
forward to meeting you in person." He held the phone to Arthurís ear,
refusing to let him hold it while he was driving.

"I never said that," Arthur assured her
though he was laughing as he spoke.

"I think I believe your friend over you, Arthur
Michael Pembroke. And why didnít you ring me when you were leaving, as you
were supposed to?"

Arthur flushed and winced. "Because my hands were
full with Rhysí bags?" he offered.

There was a patently unimpressed silence before Ann
spoke again. "Weíll discuss it when you get here. Drive carefully."

"Yes, Mum. We should be there in an hour. Love
you."

"She sounds nice," Merlin observed after
ending the call. He reached down to slide the phone back into Arthurís pocket.
"And perfectly sane."

"Thatís because she wasnít talking about her
favorite subject," Arthur chuckled.

"Friends tried to talk me into them a few times,
but I always refused," Merlin said. "I donít understand the
obsession with the damned things; theyíre hot and uncomfortable and look
silly."

"You sound as if you speak from experience."

"Only on how they look. As I said, I always
refused to be cajoled into one."

"Just be careful what you say to my mother then;
she might make you some."

"Not even for you!" Merlin exclaimed, trying
not to remember the first time heíd said that to Arthur.

"But Iíd offer to play with your wand,"
Arthur snickered, counting on the fact that he was driving to keep Rhys from
hitting him.

"Oh, I donít believe you said that,"
Merlin groaned, thumping his head back against the seat.

"At least I didnít say you needed a lightning
bolt scar..."

"I am thumping you the minute this car
stops!"

"Ooo, Iím terrified," Arthur laughed.
"How can I make it up to you?"

"Iíll let you on Sunday night," Merlin
replied sweetly.

"I think I could be talked into that..."

"I had a feeling that might be the case."

"Shocking, isnít it?"

"And now we have to be good for two days,"
Merlin said mournfully. "I just hope I donít forget and touch you in
front of your mother."

Arthur frowned and glanced over at Merlin at that
comment. "Why? I mean we certainly canít act as if we were at your place,
but I doubt my mum would faint dead over if I touched you."

"So Iím allowed to steal the occasional
kiss?" Merlin asked hopefully. He was dismayed to realize how quickly heíd
grown accustomed to being able to touch Arthur again, and he knew that no matter
how hard he tried, it was likely that he would reach out for Arthur at some
point during their weekend.

Merlin looked down at himself and burst into laughter.
"If she had, Iím fairly certain sheíd change her mind after her first
sight of me."

"Probably," Arthur laughed, and the two
settled into companionable silence as they drove, crossing into Wales and
finally ending up in front of a small cottage that was almost hidden behind
green ivy that climbed its walls and late spring flowers blooming in neat beds
in the tidy yard.

Merlin climbed out of the car and leaned back against
it, ignoring both Arthur and their bags for the moment as he took in the home
before him. And it was very clear to him, that it was truly that, a home, much
more than simply a house. "Itís wonderful," he said softly, glad for
Arthurís sake that heíd had a good childhood this time. It didnít happen
often.

Arthur started to say something sarcastic then caught
sight of Merlinís expression and smiled softly. "Yes, it is," he
murmured as the door flew open, revealing a tall woman dressed in a long blue
skirt and a plain white Oxford shirt. Her long blonde hair was pulled back so
that it spilled over her shoulders, and her smile brightened her dark blue eyes.

Arthur climbed out of the car, strode over to her and
caught her in a tight hug. "Hello, Mum."

Ann hugged him just as tightly, all her attention on
her son for that moment, and Merlin observed them, a small smile curving his
lips. Arthur so often lost his mother early, but it looked as if that too was
different this time, and it gave him hope for the future. Just then Ann looked
up, her eyes catching Merlinís, and she smiled a greeting.

"And you must be Rhys."

"I must be," he agreed with a smile.
"Itís a pleasure to meet you, maíam."

Merlin snickered at the expression on Arthurís face
even as he raised an eyebrow. "Well, Arthur? Arenít you going to answer
your mother?"

Arthur could feel the heat creeping up his face, and
he cleared his throat. "No, Mum, Iím pleased that you like him," he
said dutifully, all the while plotting at how to get back at Rhys for his
comment.

Merlin chuckled wryly. "I donít think Iíd be
content just to be an advisor." Not that it was ever that way, but they
do like to clean up their legends. Nimue! He snorted softly.

"No, I think that youíd want to run the kingdom
yourself," Arthur laughed.

"I really doubt Arthur would have been content as
a puppet king."

"I donít know, I think I like that idea; sit
back and relax and let someone else handle the heavy lifting."

"I give you half a day before that drives you mad
and you take over everything," Merlin replied laughingly. "Youíre
not the puppet type either."

"Point," Arthur sighed. "But it would
be nice for a short time."

Merlin opened his mouth to say something, stopped,
looked at Arthurís mother, and blushed.

"Oh, I would dearly love to know what you almost
said," she chuckled.

"No, you wouldnít, Mum," Arthur pleaded.

Merlinís blush darkened, and he shook his head
emphatically, and Ann relented.

"So, Arthur tells me that youíre living the
idyllic life for the moment."

Merlin chuckled, though he was still somewhat flushed.
"Arthur disapproves of my indolence, but Iím rich enough to be able to do
whatever I want, and I donít know what I want to do yet," he finished
with a shrug.

"I never said I disapproved of it," Arthur
protested, smacking his knee.

"Itís better to wait and see where your
instincts take you than to flounder your life away," Ann nodded.

"See, your mum understands," Merlin said
triumphantly.

"If you can afford to wait," Arthur pointed
out.

"Which I can." Merlin regarded him
quizzically. "Iím not planning to do nothing my entire life, if thatís
what bothers you. I just need some time just to be me."

"Youíre very young to feel that way," Ann
observed, regarding her sonís lover curiously, especially when her words made
Merlin laugh harshly.

"You might be surprised."

"Rhys likes to say heís wise beyond his
years," Arthur told his mother with a fond look toward the other young man.

"Or foolish, to put up with you," Ann said,
hiding her smile by taking another sip of her drink.

"People who know me might say it was the
reverse," Merlin chuckled, reaching over and taking Arthurís hand.

"Iíd have to agree with you then; Arthur might
play the brainless athlete, but has he told you that heís on a full academic
scholarship?"

For a moment Merlin looked almost sorrowful as he
gazed at Arthur, but then he seemed to shrug off whatever mood had struck him,
and he smiled. "That does sound like a job for the once and future
king."

"Honestly, Iíd prefer to be a barrister,"
Arthur admitted with a slight shrug.

"Sweetheart, you know Iíll be happy with
whatever you choose to do as long as youíre happy," Ann assured him,
leaning forward, and Merlin inhaled sharply.

He hadnít been sure, but now, seeing Ann Pembroke in
just that position, with that look of love and pride on her face, he was
reminded of the one time he had seen Arthur Pendragonís mother Igraine, and he
knew. Ann wasnít just obsessed with Camelot; some part of her remembered
it.

"Is there something wrong, Rhys?" Ann asked,
transferring her attention to the lean youth, her brow creased with concern.

"No, Iím fine," Merlin replied. Seeing
that neither of the others looked convinced, he added, "I must have moved
wrong, thatís all." He took a long swallow of his beer.

"You sure? Want me to check it out?" Arthur
asked, pulling his hand from Merlinís to press it against his side.

Merlin looked at him, his eyes darkening, and Ann had
to hide another smile in her glass. "Really, itís fine, just a
twinge," Merlin replied, his hand rising to cover Arthurís.

"Well, let us know if it gets worse," Arthur
said seriously, and Ann nodded.

"I do have aspirin and plasters."

"I will, ta." Merlin was touched by their
concern but also somewhat amused. After all, it had been fifteen hundred years
since heíd had a mother to fuss over him.

"Yes, maíam," Merlin replied, choosing not
to correct her on his middle name of Emrys since he wasnít an idiot.

"Donít terrorize my boyfriend, Mum,"
Arthur said quickly, before blinking as he realized what heíd said.

Ann grinned at him, but Merlin was staring at him
searchingly, and after a moment he gave Arthur a shy smile, one that made him
look younger than he was, Arthur chewing on his lower lip for a moment before
smiling back.

"Youíre very sweet together."

"Ann!" Merlin groaned, looking appalled.

"Sweet?" Arthur groaned. "Mum, thatís
horrid!"

"But quite apropos."

"I feel ill," Merlin muttered.

"As do I," Arthur nodded.

"Silly as well as sweet," Ann decided, and
Merlin got to his feet.

"Iím getting us more drinks," he announced
before heading to the kitchen.

"Find the hard liquor," Arthur begged.

Laughing, Ann called, "Iíve a bottle of brandy
and one of whiskey in the cupboard next to the fridge."

"Thank god!" Merlin said fervently. He
returned a few moments later with the whiskey and three glasses.

"Just donít drink so much that youíre hung
over in the morning," Ann chuckled.

"Whyever not?" Merlin wanted to know,
clutching his glass as if it was his new best friend.

"Exactly; weíll all have the same thing to eat,
so unless you care to dine on porridge..." Ann offered, and Arthur
shuddered.

"Horrid stuff."

Merlin grinned, remembering that Arthur had always
hated porridge. That was one thing that never seemed to change from life to
life. "You donít know what youíre missing," he said cheerfully.

"Yes, I do, and Iím happy to keep missing
it!"

"There, there, I promise to protect you from the
evil porridge," Merlin crooned, and Ann lost her battle against laughter.

"Iím beginning to wonder why I invited
you!" Arthur exclaimed.

"And I see exactly why you did," Ann said,
smiling at both of them.

It was past eleven, dinner was eaten and the dishes
cleaned when the three finally said good night to each other, Arthur and Merlin
heading toward Arthurís childhood room while Ann entered her own room and shut
the door behind her.

Merlin sank down on the edge of the bed and looked up
at Arthur. "I really like your mum."

"I do as well, and it seemed she really liked
you," Arthur mused, dropping down beside him and flopping back onto the
comforter.

"Yeah, so youíd best be nice to me, or I might
dump you for her. I think she might have me," Merlin chuckled, grinning
down at the prone man.

"Well, you are better than Malcolm," Arthur
mused before poking Merlin in the side.

"Ah, but then youíd have to call me Dad,"
Merlin pointed out, squirming away from the offending finger.

"Would I get a large allowance if I did?"

"Much less than as my boy toy."

"And then thereís the fact that Mum would
probably wear you to a frazzle," Arthur mused. "I suppose Iíll have
to keep you."

"So now Iím the toy?" Merlin asked with a
lazy chuckle, stretching out next to Arthur and idly petting his chest.

"You are fun to play with," Arthur allowed
as he rested his arm around Merlinís waist.

"Iím pleased you think so. It all works out
rather brilliantly, donít you think?"

"Us together? Yes, it does," Arthur
murmured, kissing the top of Merlinís head.

"I like this too, the smaller bed. Itís...
cozy."

"As opposed to one the size of a small
country?"

"It gives us plenty of room to play without
worrying about falling off," Merlin pointed out. "However, thatís
not something we need to worry about this weekend."

"We just have to be careful not to fall off and
have my mum laughing at us come morning."

"Iím fairly certain that her laughing at us is
inevitable."

"I should return her gift since she seems to have
a comedy troupe in residence."

"I suppose it could be worse," Merlin mused.
"She could have hated me on sight."

"I knew she wouldnít."

Merlin propped his head on his hand and gazed down at
Arthur curiously. "How?"

Arthur paused and shrugged a shoulder. "I just
did; Iím not sure why."

"Well, whatever the reason, Iím glad of it and
glad that you invited me along this weekend."

"Iím glad you came. I suppose we should get
changed and try and get some sleep."

"Yes, I donít think lazing in bed till noon is
in the cards for us tomorrow," Merlin agreed. He sat up reluctantly and
slid off the bed to dig through his pack for the sleep pants and t-shirt heíd
packed for the nights.

"Especially not for the one of us who has to
cook," Arthur sighed as he stood and got changed as well. Chuckling wryly,
he waited for Merlin to climb into the bed, then turned out the light and joined
him.

"This seems rather odd."

"It seems extremely odd," Merlin
corrected. "Weíve never shared a bed before just to sleep. And certainly
not with this many clothes on."

"If we had less clothes, we wouldnít be just
sleeping," Arthur mused.

"Much as I like the sound of that, I donít
think I could with your mum just down the hall."

"And I know I couldnít!"

Merlin chuckled at the sheer horror in Arthurís
voice. "So letís get some sleep then, shall we?" He settled himself
more comfortably against Arthur and pressed a kiss to the cotton-covered chest
before closing his eyes.

"See, Arthur can cook quite well," Ann said
as she sipped her tea, the remains of their breakfast spread on the table in
front of them.

"One of my favorites," Merlin replied with a
beatific smile as Arthur groaned and quickly grabbed for his tea.

"He does make very good pies," Ann said,
hiding her smile behind a napkin.

"Oh good, Iím absolute rubbish at pie
crust," Merlin said.

"I hate you both," Arthur moaned.

"No, you donít," Merlin responded serenely
while Ann chuckled.

"Oh, you are in trouble, son of mine."

"Shepherdís pie doesnít even have crusts, so
there." Arthur resisted sticking his tongue out at them both only by the
slimmest margin.

"What, youíre not making me apple pie for a
sweet?" Merlin asked, trying to sound hurt.

"You like eclairs better," Arthur shot back
before remembering his mother was also listening and blushing.

Annís eyebrows arched at the flush, but she chose
not to embarrass either of them by asking. She could see that the tips of Merlinís
ears were red, and the poor things might combust if she pushed for an answer.

"Yeah, well, you donít make those, do
you?" Merlin muttered.

Casting about for a change of subject, Arthur looked
over at his mother. "So, Mum, what would you like to do today?"

Still looking amused, Ann suggested, "I thought
we could show Rhys the area. The countryside is lovely, and some of the local
shops are quite interesting."

Merlin glanced at Arthur for guidance, not sure how
the blonde felt about his motherís suggestion.

"Feel up for a tour, Rhys?" Arthur asked,
knowing that his mother loved to give tours.

"I should love a tour," Merlin replied
gamely. "I donít think Iíve ever been to this part of the
country."

"Where are you from?" Ann asked. "I donít
believe Arthur told me."

"That would be because Arthur doesnít know
either."

"I grew up in London," Merlin said, since
that was what his background this time around said, "but I was born in
Wales, in a small village near the English border."

"Then youíll love seeing this part of the
country," Ann assured him.

"I never doubted it."

The three of them worked easily together to clean up
the small kitchen, and then they returned upstairs to get ready for their day
out. When they regrouped downstairs, Merlin asked which vehicle theyíd be
using.

"Yours doesnít have a back seat, so unless one
of us is riding in the boot..." Arthur chuckled.

Merlin smirked at him and ducked the retaliatory
swing. "Here now, no boyfriend abuse!"

"I think I should put both of you in the
boot," Ann informed them. "Behave!"

"Itís your birthday, Mum, we will," Arthur
promised.

"Heaven help me when itís not my birthday
then!"

Merlin chuckled. "We really do know how to behave
in polite company."

"That remains to be seen," Ann commented.
"Are you boys ready to go? Thereís a lot to see."

They both nodded and Ann led them out to her car,
where the two young men got into a brief discussion of who should sit where.

"You should sit in front," Merlin hissed.
"Sheís your mother."

"Iíve seen the sights and you havenít,"
Arthur responded. "Youíre in the front, Rhys."

"But..." Merlin looked at the stubborn
expression on Arthurís face, sighed, and slid into the front passenger seat.

"I shall stand against the beast," Arthur
muttered, twisting under Merlinís weight in the bed, his moves nearly strong
enough to roll the other man off of him.

Merlin bit back a yelp of surprise, his eyes flaring
gold as he kept himself from being dumped onto the floor. Then they widened as
he actually heard what Arthur was saying.

"Too many hurt, too many killed, always too
many," Arthur sighed in his sleep, his hand coming up to grip Merlinís
wrist. "Not you though."

"No, Iím well and here by your side, where Iíve
always been and always shall be."

Arthur relaxed at that, his hand loosening its grip on
Merlinís arm. "Iíll be here for you as well, my love," he murmured
before falling sound asleep again.

"Oh Arthur," Merlin breathed, "only you
could make you fall in love with you over and over again. Youíre so very like
this time... and yet still so very different." He lay back down at Arthurís
side, one arm stretched over him possessively, and slowly dozed off, content.

"Feel like coming to a game? I can promise a pint
or two afterward, and you can put ice on my bruises."

For a moment, Merlin looked surprised before his
expression morphed into shy pleasure. "Iíd like that," he agreed.
"And Iíll even kiss them better if you like."

Sighing, Merlin realized that Arthur wasnít going to
let him avoid the question, not that heíd really thought he might. "I
just meant that the people in those videos didnít really matter to me, not
beyond superficial friendship at best. You, er, you do. This, us, is just for
us."

Arthur beamed at that. "Exactly," he
murmured before leaning in to press a lingering kiss to Merlinís lips.

"Are you sure we have to go to the game?"
Merlin muttered, licking his lips.

"I should be on my way there now; youíre
distracting, Rhys."

"You say that like itís a bad thing,"
Merlin purred, but he did get to his feet. "Do you want to take my
car?"

"With you in it?" Arthur asked as he stood
as well.

"Well, you did invite me, and I wasnít planning
to walk."

"You do have more than one car, and I wasnít
sure if you would want to get there this early."

Merlin shrugged easily. "I donít mind, and this
way I can be sure you wonít be spirited away after the match."

"Well then, can I call you my bodyguard
then?"

"Around a bunch of burly footie players whoíd
take it as a challenge to reduce me to kindling? I think not!"

Arthur paused and looked at him before chuckling.
"Rhys, if you call them footie players, they will reduce you to
kindling. Rugby, itís rugby."

Merlin grinned. "I know, but youíre cute when
you puff up."

"Cute?"

"In a very hot, masculine sort of way, of
course."

"Oh come on, and letís get out of here before
some other strangeness comes out of your mouth."

Merlin laughed. "And here I thought you liked my
strangeness."

"Strangeness doesnít equal kinkiness,"
Arthur sniffed as he picked up his duffle and they headed for the door.

"Do you really want me to get kinky before your
match?" Merlin demanded with a wicked grin.

"What I want and what I can have are two
different things at the moment."

"Iíll make it up to you tonight," Merlin
promised.

A few hours later, Merlin was wondering if heíd
tempted fate with those words. While most of Arthurís teammates had been fine
with his introduction of Merlin as his boyfriend, a few had clearly been
horrified by the poofters, and with his typical luck, it was one of those whoíd
finished up with his shower and left the locker room first.

The very large, muscular rugby player whose name was
something stereotypically ridiculous like Buzz or Ox, which Merlin had forgotten
immediately upon hearing it, glared when he saw the wiry young man leaning
against the wall, waiting for Arthur and his friends.

"Disgusting," he sneered, moving toward
Merlin, who watched him warily after a quick glance around revealed no one in
the vicinity.

"Pervert!" The larger manís hands clenched
into fists, and he stepped closer.

"You really donít want to do that," Merlin
warned, trying to avoid an altercation, although his magic could almost be felt
as he prepared defend himself.

"You really donít want me to, but, guess
what, I am."

"I warned you," Merlin said softly, his eyes
flaring gold in the instant before the other man found himself slammed against
the wall, dazed by the impact.

The low, choked cry came not from the other man, but
from Arthur, who was staring at Merlin from where heíd just come around the
corner. "Rhys?" he asked, before shaking his head almost violently. He
brought both hands up to his forehead and leaned back against the wall behind
him. "Youóyour eyesó" He sank to the ground, his knees pulled to
his chest, groaning. "My head."

"Arthur!" Merlin murmured a quick spell to
knock the bully out completely, not wanting to worry about an attack from
behind, and bolted to Arthurís side, sinking to his knees next to the blonde.
"Are you all right?"

"I feel as if someone slammed a cudgel into the
back of my head." Arthurís reply was not in modern English, and when he
looked up at Merlin, his pupils were blown wide, almost eclipsing the blue of
his eyes. He blinked slowly, and his forehead creased in a frown. "What did
I just say?"

"That you have a headache," Merlin replied
distractedly as he tried to decide whether it would make things better or worse
to tell Arthur what had just happened.

"No, thatís not quite it... Did I take a rap
during the match?"

Merlin really wished he could take advantage of
the ready-made excuse, but heíd promised himself not to lie to Arthur.
"No, you were fine when you went to clean up."

"Ióitís like, like my brain is overfull. I
keep seeing things that canít be there."

"There are more things in heaven and
earth..."

Arthur stared up at him before his face whitened, and
he twisted to the side, retching.

Merlin put an arm around his shoulders, offering his
support. "Iím glad thatís not your usual reaction to looking at
me," he said wryly.

"You lookó" Arthur reached up and wiped a
hand over his mouth. "I saw you, but also a different you."

Merlin inhaled sharply. "What... what did I look
like?"

Arthur frowned up at him, his gaze somewhat unfocused.
"You, but, different... like something out of my motherís studies. But
sometimes you were old." He looked up as several of his friends came around
the corner, their voices rising when they saw the scene before them.

"We should talk about this later, when weíre
home," Merlin murmured, helping Arthur to his feet.

"What happened?" one of the other young men
asked, and Arthur looked at Merlin to provide the answer as he wasnít sure of
it himself.

"Youíre probably dehydrated after the
match," Merlin said. "You came out, seemed to wobble, and fell down
and were ill."

"Perhaps we should get you in to the
trainer..." At the suggestion, Arthur shook his head and slowly began to
get to his feet.

"Iíll be fine; will have to have a rain-check
on those beers though."

"Maybe in a day or two," Merlin suggested,
"once youíre feeling more yourself. You may have caught a bit of a cold,
and the match on top of that just took it out of you."

"That must be it," Arthur nodded slowly,
managing to give his mates a lopsided smile. "Another time, lads?"

"Right. And be sure to bring Rhys along. We have
to tell him all our Arthur stories, yeah?"

Merlin chuckled. "Iím looking forward to
it."

Arthur groaned, sounding half-pitiful, half as if he
was in real pain.

"What happened to Bear?"

That was his name! Merlin cast a quick glance at
the still unconscious youth.

"He must have stumbled and hit his head."

Nearly everyone eyed Merlin, but no one seemed to want
to challenge the statement.

"Seems to be a lot of that going around lately;
weíll take care of him."

Merlin cast a glance at Bear more fitting for a bug he
was about to step on. "You do that. And Iíll get Arthur home and take
care of him."

The small group collected Bear and headed off, leaving
Arthur and Merlin alone. "Sorry about that beer," Arthur muttered as
they slowly began making their way toward his flat which was near the field.

"Thatís fine; weíll do it another day. I
rather liked your friends," Merlin said, watching Arthur anxiously as they
walked.

"Do you have any?" Arthur asked suddenly.

"What, friends? Of course I do, though none who
are particularly close," Merlin admitted. There had been over the years,
but Merlin had found himself growing increasingly more distant as the centuries
passed and he lost friend after friend.

"I canóWill? Did you mention someone named
Will?"

Merlin stilled. "Not that I recall, but I did
have a friend named Will when I was a boy."

"Did he die?" Arthur asked, glancing over at
Merlin, his eyes still dilated and unfocused. "He was... shot."

Merlin started them moving again, more anxious than
ever to get Arthur inside. "Yes, he was. But it was a very long time
ago."

"I can remember it; I can see it; how is that
possible?" Arthur asked, pulling Merlin to a stop and staring at him.

"Fine, my name isnít Merlin Emrys Lloyd, itís
just Merlin Emrys, and the first time we met was in your first incarnation... as
Arthur Pendragon, Prince and future King of Camelot."

Arthur blinked at that, and he opened his mouth to
argue the fact, then slowly closed it again as memories that didnít match with
his own assailed him. "Did you know this when we first met?"

"Yes. It would be difficult not to, since you
look just the same as you did then."

"Just because I remember the facts doesnít make
him me," Arthur snapped.

"I know that. You were him, fifteen
centuries ago, but youíre not now. Youíre you, very like him in some ways
and very different in others. Youíre a product of this world, not that."

"And is this the time of Englandís great need
then? Has he come back to save the country from its greatest peril?" Arthur
asked, rubbing his forehead.

"No, I donít believe so. You have been
reincarnated many times over the centuries, and the memories often came back to
you eventually, though this is the first time you looked the same. If it were
his time to return in that way, I think you would have been born knowing it,
remembering it all."

"And what do you do? Wait?"

"Yes," Merlin replied simply. "I live,
and I wait, and I make friends and love people and watch them all die, year
after year, decade after decade, century after century."

"Waiting for him," Arthur murmured.

"Yes, but also finding and loving others along
the way. I was drawn to you because of him, but I love you for yourself,
Arthur."

"And how many times have you said that
before?" Arthur asked, looking away from the other man.

Merlin sighed again. "I havenít. Have I loved
any of your previous incarnations? Of course I have... for being reincarnations
of Arthur. But you... Iíd have loved you even if you had nothing to do with
him."

Merlin flinched, and his eyes closed as he turned
away, his shoulders hunching self-protectively. "Ifó" His voice
cracked, and he had to try again. "If thatís what you really want."

Arthur was quiet for a long moment before he answered.
"I need to think about it. Right now everything is confused; I canít tell
what are my thoughts and what are his. He loved you, but then Iím sure you
knew that."

Merlin nodded without turning around. "It was all
I had to hang on to for a very long time." He hesitated, then forced
himself to ask, "Do you want me to leave?"

"No," Arthur said immediately before giving
a hoarse laugh. "I suppose thatís one thing he and I are in agreement
on."

Merlin nearly staggered from the relief of those
words. "Thank all the gods," he murmured. "I lost him; Iím not
sure I could bear to lose you too."

"I donít think I have a bastard son hiding out
anywhere plotting to kill me," Arthur said dryly before sighing.
"Though that isnít what happened, is it?"

"No, Mordred was no relation to Arthur, nor was
Morgana beyond having been Utherís ward. And I certainly never was in love
with Nimueh!" Merlin added, centuries of annoyance in his tone at that
last.

"It happens from time to time over the years,
Arthur. Others are reincarnated and find each other. You, Arthur is the one
reborn the least frequently."

"And did you find him each time?"

"Five times," Merlin said softly. "Five
short lifetimes out of fifteen hundred years, in one of which he was so furious
once he remembered that he refused to ever speak to me again."

"I can understand that," Arthur murmured
under his breath, making Merlin stiffen and hunch his shoulders again.

"If youíre going to do that, please just get it
over with," he whispered brokenly. "Youíve been many things, but I
never thought you were cruel."

"I didnít say I was going to do it, just that I
could understand why he did."

"Arthur, please." Merlin finally
turned to face Arthur, letting him see the fear in Merlinís face. Arthurís
expression twisted, and he reached out, grabbing Merlin and yanking him in for a
desperate kiss.

"I canít send you away," he rasped,
"it would hurt me too much."

Merlin let out a moan of sheer relief and all but
wrapped himself around Arthur, clinging with desperate strength. "Thank the
gods."

Arthur bowed his head, resting his forehead against
Merlinís dark hair and inhaling, his scent familiar on several levels now.
"I donít want to lose you," he whispered.

"You couldnít," Merlin promised. "The
only way youíll be rid of me is if you drive me off with a stick."

"I somehow donít think that would work."

"It would if you wanted me gone. Thatís the
only thing that could make me leave you."

Arthur held him, slowly stroking his back as he
struggled to come to grips with all that he had learned. "Will his memories
take over?" he finally asked. "Will I become him and not myself?"

"No!" Merlin exclaimed, raising his head
from Arthurís shoulder to meet the blondeís eyes. "No, youíll be able
to remember his lifeóand possibly the others in betweenóbut itís more as
if itís something you had seen, a show. Youíll still be you."

"When he finally comes back, do you think heíll
remember any of us?"

"I think so, but thereís really no way to know
for certain."

Arthur nodded slowly even as he took a deep breath and
let it out.

"Iím sorry," Merlin said helplessly.
"But I didnít think any good could come of telling you before you were
ready to remember on your own. But I never lied to you. No matter how deranged
it made me sound," he added in a mutter.

"I thought you were eccentric," Arthur
sighed, stroking his hand over Merlinís back to try to soothe them both.

"Iíve been called worse. But in this case, no,
simply a good bit older than you thought."

"Just a bit!" Arthur exclaimed, shaking his
head. "This takes dirty old man to the extreme."

Despite the situation, a snicker escaped Merlin.
"Iím no old man, Iíll have you know!" he protested.

"Hullo? Fifteen hundred?"

"Thatís just years," Merlin replied
dismissively. "Do I look old to you?"

"You look exactly like he remembers."

Merlin chuckled wryly. "I look the way I did when
we first met, but there are plenty of other memories to come. Decadesí
worth."

"Will you end up with a tangled beard?"
Arthur murmured.

"No! Nor a pointy hat or sparkly robe
either!"

"I think I could come up with ways of making you
wear them."

Merlin whimpered, and Arthur managed a smile.
"Youíll enjoy it."

"No, I really, really wonít," Merlin said
mournfully, already knowing he was going to end up wearing the costume.

"He says different."

Merlin glared. "Brilliant, now Iím
outnumbered!"

"Youíre not the one who has to live with
another personís memories," Arthur said dryly.

"Which youíre already using against me,"
Merlin retorted.

"Iíd be willing to give up the advantage to
feel as if my head was my own again."

"Iím sorry," Merlin said sympathetically.
"It will get easier as you grow used to it. After all, you donít get
overwhelmed by your childhood memories every day."

"That would be because I lived them," Arthur
groaned, rubbing his head.

"These memories will feel like that eventually,
only even less immediate."

"Thatís good because right now I feel as if my
head is about to explode."

"Itís like turning the light on when youíve
been in the dark; itís painful for a bit, but only until your eyes
adjust."

"Right now it feels as if I should have a
paracetamol and a lie down."

"Then letís do that."

Arthur managed a small smile at that. "There is
the minor issue of you being in my lap."

"I rather like it here."

Arthur groaned piteously, and Merlin smiled briefly
and leaned forward to kiss him before standing up and offering Arthur a hand.
"Bed?" he suggested.

Arthur clasped his hand around Merlinís and slowly
stood, wobbling a bit before he got his balance. "Just need to get that
paracetamol first," he murmured, leading Merlin down the narrow hall to the
washroom.

"You can give me the grand tour tomorrow,"
Merlin said, though he looked around with interest as he followed Arthur.

"Not much to it," Arthur shrugged, reaching
in the cabinet for the paracetamol and dry swallowing two pills, all without
releasing Merlinís hand, then leading the other man back to the bedroom,
finally releasing Merlinís hand to strip out of his trainers and jeans. He
stripped back the comforter on the bed and collapsed onto it, closing his eyes
against the dim lighting.

Merlin watched him for a moment, and then he stripped
down as well and crawled in next to Arthur, pressing close. "I do love you,
Arthur Pembroke," he whispered.

Arthur breathed out a sigh and pressed a kiss to
Merlinís dark hair. "Iím glad youíre here, Rhys," he said
quietly, his arms wrapped securely around the other man.

It was early evening when Arthur walked into the flat,
setting his attachť case on the small desk near the inner door but leaving his
suit jacket on. "Rhys?" he called, not seeing the other man, "are
you ready to go? The reservations are for eight."

"You are so the girl in this relationship,"
Merlin announced as he came out of the bedroom, still knotting his tie.
"You never forget an anniversary."

"Which is why you call me a prat so often. Now
come along, Rhys, thereís a good French meal waiting for us."

"You are a prat," Merlin chuckled. "At
least you donít sink to clotpole very often anymore."

"Only when I tie you up and donít let you
come," Arthur smirked as he wrapped an arm around Merlinís waist and
started him for the door and the elevator beyond.

"I take it back; you are a clotpole,
talking about that when weíre on our way out!" Merlin exclaimed, trying
to adjust himself discreetly.

"Just think of it as an appetizer," Arthur
promised.

"I hope youíre planning to put out in the
end."

Arthur only smirked and, once theyíd stepped into
the lift, pushed Merlin up against the wall, ravaging his mouth. "Does that
answer your question?" he murmured once their kiss-swollen lips parted.

"Do we have to leave the elevator?" Merlin
wanted to know. "We could stay in and celebrate, yeah?"

"Weíre going out," Arthur said sternly.

Merlin sighed. "Slave driver."

"You love it and you know it."

"Sadly true. Iím whipped."

"Thatís a little kinky even for me if you must
know," Arthur chuckled, reluctantly moving away from Merlin when the lift
reached the garage level.

Merlin chuckled as they made their way toward the car
they were using that night. "Itís a bit much for me too. Now some cuffs
on the other hand..."

"Fur-lined, of course."

"You are so coming through on that promise later
tonight."

"You may have to do a little mumbo jumbo to come
up with them unless weíre going shopping on the way to our meal," Arthur
chuckled as he backed the car out of the space and navigated through the garage
and out into the cityís streets.

"Leave it to me," Merlin said with a quirked
smile. "Consider it part of your present."

"Itíll accumulate interest," Merlin
promised him. "You wonít be able to walk tomorrow... and I hopefully wonít
even be able to get out of bed."

"Isnít it a good thing that I took a holiday
from work?" Arthur asked with a sly grin.

"Brilliant!" Merlin exclaimed delightedly.
"I knew there was a reason I fell for you."

Arthur cut a glance over at him and chuckled.
"Actually, I think that had something to do with who I looked like; itís
me being myself that has kept you around."

"Well, it certainly wasnít for your
humility," Merlin laughed.

"Oh please, this from the jet-setting
playboy."

"Not for the last decade," Merlin protested.

"What, you mean because weíre married you canít
be a jet-setting playboy?"

"The only jet-setting and playing I do is with
you, and thatís the way I like it."

Arthur smirked. "Exactly."

"Youíre a smug prat."

"And you love me," Arthur laughed.

"As much as you love me."

"Damn right," Arthur nodded, sounding very
satisfied with himself for that fact.

"I think we deserve each other," Merlin
decided.

They finally reached the restaurant and enjoyed a
long, leisurely meal accompanied by an excellent bottle of wine; Arthur,
however, stopped Merlin before he could order dessert.

"I have a plan for that," he promised."

"That sounds interesting," Merlin said,
following Arthur when he rose from the table, and they made their way back to
the car to return home.

"You were right again," Merlin said idly,
watching Arthur drive. "Dinner out was nice."

"Considering the bill, I would hope it was more
than nice," Arthur chuckled, though he reached over and squeezed Merlinís
hand before letting go and shifting as they sped up, the late night traffic
having eased somewhat.

"Iíll show you just how nice I thought it was
once we get home," Merlin promised, content to sit back and look at
Arthur... in his own way. His eyes flashed gold, and invisible hands ran over
Arthurís chest and down to his groin.

Arthur gasped and had to hit the brake, almost
stalling the sports car when his other foot missed the clutch. "Bloody
hell, Iím never going to get used to that!"

"Actually, I think it was because of that thing
you do with your tongue..."

Merlin burst into laughter. "Itís a good thing
Iím good at it, then."

"Exactly so."

"So I should worry about being dumped if you find
someone who does it better?"

"To quote that old song, ĎNobody does it betterí,"
Arthur snickered.

"Awww. Just for that, Iíll reward you when we
get home."

Arthur grinned at that. "Iím looking forward to
it."

"I live to serve you."

"Iíll remember that."

Merlin snorted. "Iím sure you will... and
repeat it at the least opportune time."

"Of course I will," Arthur chuckled before
slowing the car and pulling into a parking space. "Stay here, Iíll be out
in a few moments," he promised, leaning over to kiss Merlin before hopping
out of the car.

Merlin gazed out the window as he waited, and after a
short time, he realized that his surroundings were familiar. He leaned forward,
peering in the direction Arthur had gone, and then he started to laugh when he
recognized where they were.

"A very special dessert indeed," he chuckled
as he sat back in the luxurious leather seat.

A short time later, Arthur returned from the bakery, a
pink box tied with string held in one hand. He opened the door and leaned in,
handing the box over before climbing in and belting himself in. "No
peeking," he ordered.

Arthurís smile softened, and he pulled Merlin in for
a kiss. "Anything you can do about the traffic?" he murmured against
Merlinís lips.

"Of course." Merlinís eyes flared, and
suddenly they had a clear path ahead of them as other vehicles abruptly moved
aside, the drivers finding that they didnít want to be in that lane.

Arthur glanced in front of them, then broke into
laughter. "Perfect," he chuckled, pulling out into the now empty lane
and speeding them back to their home.

"I hate interruptions," Merlin said smugly.

Arthur chuckled and increased their speed, knowing
that Merlin would manage the traffic. "So Iíve gathered."

"As if you donít like uninterrupted time
together."

"I never said that I didnít!" Arthur
protested.

Merlin chuckled. "Get us home, Arthur."

Arthur grinned and downshifted, and they arrived at
their building less than five minutes later. He slowed as he pulled into the
garage and up the ramp to their spaces. "Ready?" he asked, grinning
over at Merlin.

"Always," Merlin assured him, sliding out of
the car and all but running to the lift.

"Donít forget the..." Arthur began, but
Merlin was already gone, "...box." Moving with purpose, he snatched
the box and climbed out of the car, locking it behind him and following Merlin
to the lift.

Merlin grabbed him by the tie and wrenched him inside,
the doors closing behind Arthur. "Alone at last."

"You couldnít afford the alimony if you chose
to get rid of me," Arthur countered laughingly.

"Leave it to a barrister to think that way,"
Merlin snorted. "But I intend to keep you anyway, so I suppose itís a
moot point."

"Shocking." The lift dinged on their floor,
and Arthur wavered as the doors behind his back opened. Merlin kept them close
together as he moved them down the hall toward the main door to their flat,
rocking against Arthur with every step.

Arthur groaned and shoved the box at Merlin, lifting
him so his legs wound around his waist the moment the box left his hand.

"I think weíll see what you look like in
a dress," Merlin growled, stopping as well with a ferocious scowl on his
face, though his eyes were brimming with laughter.

"Lingerie?" Arthur asked.

"Only if youíre the one wearing it... though I
really donít think you have the figure for it."

"Thank God for that," Arthur laughed as they
started up the stairs again.

"Yes, youíd look very odd with breasts,"
Merlin agreed with a snicker.

"Thatís simply disgusting!"

"And yet still better than the thought of your
hairy legs in fishnets and stilettos."

Arthur snickered, hoisting Merlin into his arms again
when they reached the upstairs foyer. "Iím really beginning to wonder if
you married me because you wanted a draft horse."

"Iíve had horses; theyíre big, smelly brutes.
Iíd much rather have you. Youíre a lot more fun to ride."

"I suppose I should be glad you think so."

"I would have thought you would already know
that."

"I did, but with you one never knows, so itís
important to be sure," Arthur laughed, tumbling them both onto their bed
and rolling them so that his body covered Merlinís.

"I thought you knew by now that Iím a sure
thing," Merlin chuckled, spreading his legs and hiking them up to wrap
around Arthurís hips.

"Mmm, if only my cases were that easy,"
Arthur murmured before dipping his head and nipping at the juncture of Merlinís
neck and shoulder.

"Iím the only one you need to be easy,"
Merlin retorted, moaning at the sensual bite of Arthurís teeth. "You
could fuck me now," he suggested breathlessly.

"Havenít you learned patience in your
life?" Arthur asked, laving the small reddish patch, then biting it again.

"No," Merlin replied emphatically even as he
shuddered under Arthur and squirmed sensually, the move making Arthur groan.

"Weíll have to work on thatósome other
time."

"Another time," Merlin agreed. He stared up
at Arthur and lightly dragged his nails down the blondeís spine while
continuing to squirm under him.

"Oh hell," Arthur groaned, "you make me
crazy, Rhys."

"Every chance I get."

"So I noticed," Arthur panted, maneuvering
them so that his cock was positioned and drove into Merlinís body, groaning in
pleasure at the sensation. Merlin clenched down on him, biting his lip to hold
back a cry as Arthur finally filled him, exactly what he needed.

"Gorgeous and all mine," Arthur growled
before nipping at Merlinís jaw as they began to move together.

"Always yours," Merlin promised, arching up
to take Arthur deeper on every thrust.

"Forever." Arthurís tone changed as he
spoke, then he shook his head and kissed Merlin deeply. "I hate it when he
wakes up and intrudes," he growled against Merlinís mouth. "Youíre
mine for now, and he can just live with it."

Merlin kissed him, reassuring Arthur that he wasnít
going anywhere, that he was Arthurís, and he tightened his legs, pulling
Arthur deep inside himself. The pair of them rocked together, driving each other
higher, until Arthurís body tensed and he stared down into Merlinís blue
eyes. "Now," he whispered.

Merlin came instantly, as if heíd just been waiting
for Arthurís command, and Arthur followed him over, driving deep within Merlinís
body as he whispered the name he knew the other man by, then, "Love
you."

The weather was unseasonably cold, even for north
Wales, and snow pelted the windshield of the heavy SUV that was inching itself
up an unplowed, barely marked road. The driver cursed under his breath, fighting
the wheel and the slick conditions until the latter won out and the SUV ended up
in a ditch.

"The man is still an idiot," Arthur
growled as he reached back for his insulated leather duster, awkwardly pulling
it on before pressing his thumb against the ignition to turn the engine off and
lock the vehicle.

Light leather gloves were little protection against
the frigid temperature, and he jammed his hands into his pockets as he started
to slog through the calf-deep snow, his course based more on instinct than any
map or directions. After an hour of walking, he spotted a thin trail of smoke
rising over the barren trees and angled in that direction, finally ending up at
the front door of a small cottage.

A gloved fist pounded on the door, followed by an
undignified yelp when the lintel discharged its accumulation of snow onto his
head. "Merlin! Open the damn door!"

The door was flung open a moment later, and Merlin,
once again looking like the young man whoíd first traveled to Camelot, stared
out, his eyes wide. "A-Arthur?"

"No, itís the Abominable Snowman," Arthur
said dryly, his voice breaking at the last as he stepped forward and dragged
Merlin into his arms, resting his face against the younger-looking manís while
the snow covering him melted between them.

"Arthur!" Merlin grasped him convulsively.
"How... When?"

"Damp. Half-frozen," Arthur countered,
giving a pointed look at the fire blazing in the hearth.

Merlin yanked him inside and slammed the door, locking
it with a thought while hauling Arthur toward the fireplace. He pushed the
blonde into a chair and simply stood there, staring at him, and held on,
apparently unable to let go.

Arthur caught Merlinís hand with his free one so he
could shake that arm out of the sleeve before repeating the move, then kicked
out of his heavy boots so that he could stand and pull Merlin into an embrace
again, sighing in pleasure at the feel of the lean body pressed against his.

Merlin inhaled the familiar scent and closed his eyes
against the tears that threatened. "You know yourself," he whispered.

"I do, and more importantly, I know you,"
Arthur turned his head enough to kiss Merlinís jawline. "Iíve known for
the last twenty years, I suppose, since this body could withstand having an
adult consciousness inside it."

Merlinís eyes widened, and he drew his head back
just enough to meet Arthurís gaze searchingly. "Youíve always known who
you were this time?"

Arthur nodded somberly, aware of what that meant.
"My birth certificate reads Jonathan Carter, but I am Arthur Pendragon. I
remember the other lives I spent dreaming, but I am awake now."

Looking shocked, Merlin abruptly sat down on the floor
at Arthurís side. "You do? You are? Then why did you wait so long to find
me?" The last question took Merlin himself by surprise if his expression
was any indication.

"Did you really want a four-year-old showing up
at your door? The way you move around made finding you rather difficult,
especially with times being what they are."

"Perhaps not four," Merlin agreed.
"That would be disturbing on far too many levels... But I wouldnít have
minded sixteen," he said with a fake leer, trying to make a joke of it.

"If I could have found you, you would have had me
at sixteen; it was only when you came back to here that I felt you again, though
it still took me two years to track you down."

"I didnít know," Merlin whispered. "I
had no idea you were back this time," he added sadly. "I wish I had.
We wouldnít have wasted so much time." He frowned. "But maybe this
is the last time weíll do this dance; itís obviously different this
time."

"It is," Arthur nodded, slowly drawing
Merlin to the floor in front of the fire and settling him into his arms.
"None of the others ever remembered me until something triggered them, and
even then they were still themselves; Iíve never been anyone else.

He sighed and rubbed his face against Merlinís.
"Iím only sorry you had to wait so long for my return."

"I would have waited forever," Merlin
replied simply, leaning back against Arthurís chest and letting a long, slow
breath of contentment.

"Almost two thousand years is long enough."

"Iíve missed you," Merlin said softly.
"Though I loved some of your other incarnations in their own rights, I
still loved you too, and gods but I missed you."

"I know," Arthur answered, breathing the
words against Merlinís hair. "They loved you as well; even Charles did,
that was why he sent you away. Iím glad you had that, that you werenít
alone." His arms tightened around Merlinís body, and he took a deep
breath. "But I would have given anything to be the one with you."

Merlin nodded. "I canít live without you again,
Arthur," he said quietly. "I donít think Iím strong enough to face
losing you a second time."

"Perhaps this timeóno, this time will be
different. Weíve both learned from what we have been through, though you more
than I had the harder time." Arthur paused and cocked his head to the side
as if listening to someone, then smiled wistfully.

Merlin, his head comfortably pillowed on Arthurís
shoulder and tilted so he could see the other manís face, regarded him
curiously. "What is it?"

"Princesses, hrmm?"

"Iím never going to live that down!"
Merlin groaned. "They were... fun."

"I rather thought it might," Merlin said,
the somber mood finally lifting as he accepted that Arthur was back and with
him.

"Weíre going to be busy enough all too soon, so
for now we should enjoy ourselves and each other." As Arthur spoke, he
slipped his hands under Merlinís thick jumper, sighing in pleasure at the skin
on skin contact.

"We never had trouble with that, not even when
your father would have killed me for it," Merlin replied, his voice growing
hoarse as Arthur touched him. His own hands worked under Arthurís clothes, and
his fingertips pressed the warm flesh beneath as if testing his reality.

"He would have had to have gone through me to get
you," Arthur murmured before leaning in to close his mouth over Merlinís,
breathing his breath into the other manís lungs then drawing it back,
intoxicated by the faint taste he received this way.

Merlin whimpered softly, twisting in Arthurís lap so
that they faced one another with Merlinís long legs curled around Arthurís
waist.

Arthur pulled back far enough to tear Merlinís
jumper off him, then yank his own off as well so that they were skin to skin
from the waist up, and his hands moved greedily over Merlinís chest and back
as their mouths came together again.

"You even taste the same," Merlin groaned,
glutting his senses on Arthur.

"Gods, yes." Arthur twisted and kissed his
way down the long column of Merlinís throat even as he arched against him,
making Merlin gasp and let his head fall back. His eyes flashed gold, and their
remaining clothing vanished, leaving them naked and entwined.

Arthur gave a throaty laugh even as his hands closed
on Merlinís ass, his fingertips brushing against his hole. "You always
did cut right to the chase," he gasped.

Arthur gasped, his back bowing forward to press his
chest against Merlinís even as his own finger pressed deeper. "Good thing
weíre snow-bound then."

"This may turn out to be the worst storm in
history," Merlin said with a breathless chuckle. He rocked in Arthurís
lap, pushing back to force the finger deeper and then forward to rub his aching
cock against Arthur.

"Oh damn." Arthur pulled his finger from
Merlinís ass, kissing away the noise of complaint he made, and rolled them to
the floor, the flames gilding Merlinís pale skin with tones of gold. "I
believe we can come up with ways to entertain ourselves." He felt Merlinís
legs tighten around his hips and drove downward against the other manís body.
"I need to be in you; itís been far too long, my love."

"Dear gods, yes," Merlin groaned.
"Now!"

The flare of gold in Merlinís eyes told Arthur that
he had slicked himself, and he breathed out a groan as he positioned himself and
pushed inside Merlinís clinging heat. Arthur slowly pressed forward, sheathing
himself inch by inch until he was fully held within Merlinís body.

Merlin shuddered beneath the blonde, his eyes half
closed as he grounded himself in the sensation within him, filling him, completing
him. "Want to stay like this forever," he panted, fighting the urge to
move.

"Later common sense will make me argue that, but
right now, it sounds perfect to me," Arthur whispered before dipping his
head to nibble on Merlinís earlobe.

"I a-always give you good counsel, Sire,"
Merlin moaned. He pulled himself together as much as possible when he was
falling apart and tried to give Arthur as much pleasure as he was being given,
adding a second finger to Arthurís ass and pressing inward until he found the
sensitive gland deep inside him.

Arthur spasmed, pressing impossibly deeper into Merlinís
body before he got control of himself again and began drawing slowly back,
prolonging the pleasure for both of them. "Thatís not all you give
me," he rasped.

"Everything," Merlin gasped. "I give
you everything."

Unable to hold back any longer, Arthur began to move,
driving his full length into Merlinís body, feeling his pleasure in the clench
of his arms and legs, the spasm of the sheath around him, all of it driving him
on.

"Sadly true," Merlin sighed before
chuckling. He twisted around to rest half atop Arthur, their legs tangled
together and his head pillowed on Arthurís shoulder in what had always been
one of their favorite positions.

"Sadly?" Arthur scoffed even as he closed
both arms around Merlinís back, holding him close.

"You take dreadful advantage of the fact."

"Oh, and you are just so abused in the
process."

"Pointy hats and sparkly robes," Merlin
reminded him with great precision.

"And what did you get out of the deal when you
wore them?" Arthur asked, smirking at the memory.

Merlinís wry smile turned sensual. "As I
recall, neither of us could walk properly the next day."

"Exactly."

"Canít we do that without the ridiculous getup
first?"

"Iím planning on it for tonight," Arthur
promised.

"This is turning out to be a very good
day."

"Though I am going to need food eventually,"
Arthur chuckled though he didnít loosen his hold on Merlin.

"I see weíre back where we started, with you
expecting me to serve you," Merlin laughed.

"Are you saying that you wonít feed me?"
Arthur asked, giving his best pout, which made Merlin laugh harder.

"I suppose I can do that... Iíd hate to have
you die of hunger," he finished dryly.

"Feed me this time, and Iíll cook for us in the
morning," Arthur promised.

"Mmm, that sounds good." Merlin gave him a
quick kiss and then murmured a spell that had a full tray appearing on the floor
beside them, filling the air with the scent of freshly roasted fowl, gravy, and
crispy roasted potatoes and greens.

"And that smells delicious," Arthur groaned.

"I remember your favorites."

"You are my favorite."

Merlin smiled. "As youíre mine. But I think you
need to eat something."

"It might be a bit easier if I were sitting
up," Arthur pointed out, making Merlin sigh and sit up.

"Fine, Iíll let you eat... and then you become
my pillow again."

"Yes, oh great magician," Arthur laughed,
waiting until Merlin moved before sitting and stretching then rolling over and
catching the leg of a heavy chair, pulling it closer so that he could lean back
against it. "Though thereís no law against you leaning against me while
we eat."

Merlin smiled and shifted so that he was leaning
against Arthur. "Thatís better," he said happily.

"Mmm, much." Arthur reached over and plucked
up a slice of breast meat, offering Merlin a bite before finishing what was
between his fingers.

Merlin caught hold of Arthurís hand and drew it to
his mouth, licking the grease off and slowly sucking on each digit.

"Likewise," Merlin replied, turning his head
to kiss Arthur, the pair of them finally breaking apart and continuing their
meal, sharing bits with each other and washing it all down with wine that Merlin
conjured as well.

"I can still hardly believe youíre here,"
Merlin said softly once they were done and heíd made the remnants of the meal
vanish. "I keep thinking Iím going to wake up and find this was all a
dream."

"Of course, itís because I know you well,"
Arthur said as he clasped Merlinís hand and stood as well.

"You always have," Merlin agreed, drawing
Arthur into a tight embrace. Arthur rested their temples together before
straightening and, with a slight grin, hoisted Merlin into his arms to carry him
toward the bedroom.

"Itís a good thing there arenít any
stairs," Merlin chuckled even as he curled into Arthur, inhaling the
familiar scent of him.

"I believe I could manage them this timeóand
that you would catch me if I didnít."

"You tempt me to add a second floor to the
house," Merlin laughed, but he seemed more interested in nuzzling Arthurís
throat than carrying through on his joking threat.

"Do you really want to add to the time it takes
us to find the bed?" Arthur asked, stopping at the side of the bed and
lowering Merlin to the thick comforters, then following him down.

"Maybe tomorrow," Merlin decided, wrapping
arms and legs around Arthur to hold him close. "We have better things to do
tonight."

"Each other," Arthur nodded, rolling to his
back and bringing Merlin on top of him.

"And thatís always better than any other
option." Merlin lowered his head to kiss Arthur, squirming slightly to
settle himself.

"You moving like that is certainly better than
any option I can think of," Arthur rumbled, his eyes going half-lidded as
he spread his legs and felt Merlinís whole body settle against him.

"Oh, I could think of a few better things... like
me in you, you in me..." Merlin laid a line of biting kisses along Arthurís
jaw.

"The first," Arthur growled, his fingers
digging into Merlinís ass as they rubbed together. "Now."

"Just as demanding as when you had a crown on
your head," Merlin half-laughed, rocking against Arthur while reaching for
the hand lotion on the nightstand.

"And is this the point where you call me a prat
for it?" Arthur laughed breathlessly as he ran his hands over Merlinís
back.

"I think that can wait," Merlin replied.
"Iím sure youíll deserve it... later. Right now, Iím more interested
in your ass than your prat-dom." A slick finger slid between Arthurís
legs and over the silky skin behind his balls, petting him before continuing on
to find the sensitive ring of muscle.

Arthur gave a pleased rumble in response and took a
deep breath as he watched Merlin through half-lidded eyes. "Iím very glad
to hear that."

"And feel it?" Merlin took Arthurís mouth
in a deep, possessive kiss at the same moment that his finger breeched the
blonde.

Arthur moaned in response, clenching down around
Merlinís finger before relaxing and allowing it deeper as their tongues dueled
together. Merlin continued pressing deeper, groaning at the heat and tightness
and imagining that surrounding his cock.

Merlin shuddered with arousal at the throaty tone of
Arthurís voice, and seconds later his finger was gone and he was pushing into
Arthur.

"Oh yes," Arthur moaned, sliding his hands
down Merlinís back so that he could grasp his ass and pull him closer.

"All mine, not letting you go again," Merlin
rasped.

"You wonít need to," Arthur promised.
"Together. Together weíll finish what we were meant to do."

"Right now what weíre meant to do is enjoy each
other."

"Merlin..." At the pathetic expression that
single word resulted in, Arthur growled and claimed Merlinís mouth as he
dragged them together, and Merlin opened to him eagerly, submitting and
possessing in equal measure.

"Yes," Arthur whispered. "Together we
are everything. Together we can save them all." His last words morphed to a
groan as he arched up off the bed.

"This time Iím going to save you too though. Iím
not losing you again." Merlin pulled back only to press deeper again,
possessing Arthur utterly.

"Do it," Arthur rasped. "I donít want
to leave you alone again."

"I wonít let you," Merlin promised,
lowering his head to bite at Arthurís throat, marking him, Arthurís groan
filling the air around them in response.

"Yes. Need you, love you, always."

"My king, my love, my Arthur." Merlin began
to move faster, Arthur meeting every thrust, his muscles clenching as pleasure
tore through him until it proved too much and he came, spasming around Merlin.
Merlin shuddered through Arthurís climax and then managed only a few more
strokes before he was coming as well, the pleasure overwhelming after all the
centuries apart.

"Perfection," Arthur murmured, stroking his
hands over Merlinís back and sighing as he relaxed beneath him, his eyes going
half-lidded as he relaxed under and around Merlin.